Second Treatise of Government
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Preface
Chapter 1: Of Civil-Government
Chapter 2: Of the State of Nature
Chapter 3: Of the State of War
Chapter 4: Of Slavery
Chapter 5: Of Property
Chapter 6: Of Paternal Power
Chapter 7: Of Political of Civil Society
Chapter 8: Of the Beginning of Political Societies
Chapter 9: Of the End of Political Society and Government
Chapter 10: Of the Forms of a Common-wealth
Chapter 11: Of the Extent of Legislative Power
Chapter 12: Of the Legislative, Executive, and Federative Power of the Common-wealth
Chapter 13: Of the Subordination of the Powers of the Common-wealth
Chapter 14: Of Prerogative
Chapter 15: Of Paternal, Political, and Despotical Power, considered together
Chapter 16: Of Conquest
Chapter 17: Of Usurpation
Chapter 18: Of Tyranny
Chapter 19: Of the Dissolution of Government
Themes
All Themes
Nature, War, and Civil Society
Consent of the Governed and the Role of Government
Power and Absolute Monarchies
The Dissolution of Government
Quotes
Characters
All Characters
John Locke
Sir Robert Filmer
Sir Richard Hooker
Thomas Hobbes
King James I
King William III
Terms
All Terms
Common-wealth
Prerogative
State of Nature
State of War
Symbols
All Symbols
Nature
Literary Devices
All Literary Devices
Allusions
Genre
Hyperbole
Logos
Metaphors
Mood
Motifs
Setting
Similes
Style
Tone
Quizzes
All Quizzes
Preface Quiz
Chapter 1: Of Civil-Government Quiz
Chapter 2: Of the State of Nature Quiz
Chapter 3: Of the State of War Quiz
Chapter 4: Of Slavery Quiz
Chapter 5: Of Property Quiz
Chapter 6: Of Paternal Power Quiz
Chapter 7: Of Political of Civil Society Quiz
Chapter 8: Of the Beginning of Political Societies Quiz
Chapter 9: Of the End of Political Society and Government Quiz
Chapter 10: Of the Forms of a Common-wealth Quiz
Chapter 11: Of the Extent of Legislative Power Quiz
Chapter 12: Of the Legislative, Executive, and Federative Power of the Common-wealth Quiz
Chapter 13: Of the Subordination of the Powers of the Common-wealth Quiz
Chapter 14: Of Prerogative Quiz
Chapter 15: Of Paternal, Political, and Despotical Power, considered together Quiz
Chapter 16: Of Conquest Quiz
Chapter 17: Of Usurpation Quiz
Chapter 18: Of Tyranny Quiz
Chapter 19: Of the Dissolution of Government Quiz
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Second Treatise of Government
by
John Locke
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Introduction
Intro
Plot Summary
Plot
Summary & Analysis
Preface
Chapter 1: Of Civil-Government
Chapter 2: Of the State of Nature
Chapter 3: Of the State of War
Chapter 4: Of Slavery
Chapter 5: Of Property
Chapter 6: Of Paternal Power
Chapter 7: Of Political of Civil Society
Chapter 8: Of the Beginning of Political Societies
Chapter 9: Of the End of Political Society and Government
Chapter 10: Of the Forms of a Common-wealth
Chapter 11: Of the Extent of Legislative Power
Chapter 12: Of the Legislative, Executive, and Federative Power of the Common-wealth
Chapter 13: Of the Subordination of the Powers of the Common-wealth
Chapter 14: Of Prerogative
Chapter 15: Of Paternal, Political, and Despotical Power, considered together
Chapter 16: Of Conquest
Chapter 17: Of Usurpation
Chapter 18: Of Tyranny
Chapter 19: Of the Dissolution of Government
Themes
All Themes
Nature, War, and Civil Society
Consent of the Governed and the Role of Government
Power and Absolute Monarchies
The Dissolution of Government
Quotes
Characters
All Characters
John Locke
Sir Robert Filmer
Sir Richard Hooker
Thomas Hobbes
King James I
King William III
Terms
All Terms
Common-wealth
Prerogative
State of Nature
State of War
Symbols
All Symbols
Nature
Lit Devices
All Literary Devices
Allusions
Genre
Hyperbole
Logos
Metaphors
Mood
Motifs
Setting
Similes
Style
Tone
Quizzes
All Quizzes
Preface Quiz
Chapter 1: Of Civil-Government Quiz
Chapter 2: Of the State of Nature Quiz
Chapter 3: Of the State of War Quiz
Chapter 4: Of Slavery Quiz
Chapter 5: Of Property Quiz
Chapter 6: Of Paternal Power Quiz
Chapter 7: Of Political of Civil Society Quiz
Chapter 8: Of the Beginning of Political Societies Quiz
Chapter 9: Of the End of Political Society and Government Quiz
Chapter 10: Of the Forms of a Common-wealth Quiz
Chapter 11: Of the Extent of Legislative Power Quiz
Chapter 12: Of the Legislative, Executive, and Federative Power of the Common-wealth Quiz
Chapter 13: Of the Subordination of the Powers of the Common-wealth Quiz
Chapter 14: Of Prerogative Quiz
Chapter 15: Of Paternal, Political, and Despotical Power, considered together Quiz
Chapter 16: Of Conquest Quiz
Chapter 17: Of Usurpation Quiz
Chapter 18: Of Tyranny Quiz
Chapter 19: Of the Dissolution of Government Quiz
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Chapter 3: Of the State of War Quiz
Second Treatise of Government: Chapter 4: Of Slavery Quiz
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According to Locke, what is the difference between liberty in nature and liberty in society?
1 of 2
Liberty in nature is a paradox in and of itself, whereas liberty is a defining element of society
Liberty in nature follows the law of nature, whereas liberty in society requires governance consented to by the people
Liberty in society is absolute, while liberty in nature is restricted by rulers
None of the above
Why does Locke claim that a person cannot voluntarily enslave themselves to another?
2 of 2
Because everything exists in a state of nature and slavery is only possible outside nature
Because some people are naturally born into slavery and thus cannot agree to their own enslavement
Because governments do not recognize voluntary slavery as a legitimate state of being
Because no one ever has absolute power over their own body and thus can't give it to someone else
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Rosewall, Kim. "Second Treatise of Government."
LitCharts.
LitCharts LLC, 23 Dec 2019. Web. 16 Mar 2025.
Rosewall, Kim. "Second Treatise of Government." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 23 Dec 2019. Web. 16 Mar 2025.
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