John Locke believed it would be acceptable for the people to overthrow the government under the circumstance that the government violates the social contract by failing to protect the natural rights of the people-specifically life, liberty, and property. When the government attempts to take away or destroy the property of the people or reduces them to arbitrary power or slavery, it breaches the trust placed in it and thereby forfeits its authority. In such cases, the people are absolved from further obedience and have the right to resume their original liberty and establish a new government that better ensures their safety and rights

. Locke argued that legitimate government exists by the consent of the people to protect their natural rights, and when it fails to do so, the social contract is broken. This breach justifies resistance and revolution as a safeguard against tyranny

. He emphasized that the right of revolution is not to be taken lightly; revolutions occur only when the government’s abuse of power becomes intolerable to the people, who then choose to rebel to protect their rights

. In summary, Locke held that overthrowing the government is justified if:

• The government violates the social contract by infringing on natural rights (life, liberty, property).
• The government abuses power through ambition, corruption, or tyranny.
• The legislative authority attempts to impose absolute power contrary to the trust given by the people.
• The people find the situation intolerable and seek to restore their original liberty by establishing a new government that secures their rights

This view reflects Locke’s foundational principle that political power is conditional on the protection of natural rights and the consent of the governed.