Where did the Founders get their ideas about natural rights and social contracts?

Professor Steven Calabresi highlights the British authors who wrote about rights, sovereignty, and separation of powers. The Founders were greatly influenced by John Locke who responded to the ideas of Thomas Hobbes. Professor Calabresi explains how Hobbes also influenced the famous William Blackstone. The concept of natural rights was a key component in the written Constitution and other founding documents.

Professor Steven G. Calabresi is the Clayton J. & Henry R. Barber Professor of Law at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. He is Chairman of the Federalist Society's Board of Directors.

As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speaker.

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   • Originalism [Course] [No. 86]