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Chapter 16: Of Conquest
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Second Treatise of Government, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Nature, War, and Civil Society
Consent of the Governed and the Role of Government
Power and Absolute Monarchies
The Dissolution of Government
Summary
Analysis
Conquest is a form of foreign usurpation, Locke says, thus domestic usurpation is a form of conquest and is likewise illegitimate. A usurpation is the unlawful possession of another’s rights, and when this is applied to governors or lawful kings of a common-wealth, it is tyranny. Lawful governments must rule as consented by the people of the common-wealth, but anarchy is to have no government at all. Therefore, Locke contends, a usurper can have no power that is not authorized by the people.
King William technically usurped the English throne in 1689, the same year Locke wrote his Two Treatise. King James II had the throne prior to King William, but James II was overthrown during the Glorious Revolution because he was Roman Catholic, and William III was made king. However, a majority of English people at the time did not want a Roman Catholic to serve as king, so William did serve with their consent.
Themes
