American Government / Unit 1 Gov 017 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Natural Rights
Captions available
The idea
Natural rights are rights people possess by nature rather than by government grant — in John Locke's formulation, life, liberty, and property.
In practice
The Declaration of Independence echoes Locke: "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
Where people slip
On this view governments secure rights; they do not create them.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it · Sources for American Government