Attempted enslavement is itself an act of war justifying resistance

Evidence

And hence it is, that he who attempts to get another man into his absolute power, does thereby put himself into a state of war with him; it being to be understood as a declaration of a design upon his life: for I have reason to conclude, that he who would get me into his power without my consent, would use me as he pleased when he had got me there, and destroy me too when he had a fancy to it; for no body can desire to have me in his absolute power, unless it be to compel me by force to that which is against the right of my freedom, i.e. make me a slave. To be free from such force is the only security of my preservation; and reason bids me look on him, as an enemy to my preservation, who would take away that freedom which is the fence to it; so that he who makes an attempt to enslave me, thereby puts himself into a state of war with me. — John Locke, Second Treatise of Government, 25

Categorization

• DEFINE: Locke defines the state of war to include not only actual force but any attempt to place one under absolute power, since loss of freedom is treated as loss of everything.
• XREF: This is the philosophical root of the Declaration’s charge that tyranny aimed ‘to reduce them under absolute Despotism’ — Locke’s enslavement-as-war argument frames colonial grievance as justifiable resistance. — connects to: Unjust conquest confers no right over the conquered — John Locke, Second Treatise of Government, 222; Force without authority is a state of war justifying armed resistance — John Locke, Second Treatise of Government, 192
• recurring: this claim recurs 2 times within its source

Related

• Force without authority is a state of war justifying armed resistance (similarity 0.82)

Broader Connections

• Force without authority is a state of war justifying armed resistance #corroborates (0.95) — John Locke, Second Treatise of Government, 192