John Locke's theories on property rights and the social contract in a free society were crucial to America's founding principles

"THE LEGISLATURE ACTS AGAINST THE TRUST REPOSED IN THEM, WHEN THEY ENDEAVOUR TO INVADE THE PROPERTY OF THE SUBJECT, AND TO MAKE THEMSELVES, OR ANY PART OF THE COMMUNITY, MASTERS, OR ARBITRARY DISPOSERS OF THE LIVES, LIBERTIES OR FORTUNES OF THE PEOPLE." JOHN LOCKE