The writings of John Locke primarily led the Founding Fathers to believe that A they were justified in seeking independence from England B the government they created should have three branches with equal power C they should write laws to expand their relationship to the king D they should push for a written constitution to limit the power of the king

In his Two Treatises of Government (1689) work, the French philosopher John Locke claimed that men were by nature free and equal, but with the purpose to interact in a healthy society, it was necessary that they transferred some of their rights to a government through a social contract.

Under this contract, the government had to be elected by the people and it should protect people's natural and inalienable rights of life, liberty, and property. However, whenever it failed to do so, it was people's duty to replace the government.

These ideas were the basis to declare the American colonies independence from England, as the Declaration of Independence of the Thirteen United States of America (1776) states:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government.