Full Idea
Whenever the legislators endeavour to take away and destroy the property of the people, or reduce them to slavery under arbitrary power, they put themselves into a state of war with the people, who are thereupon absolved from any further obedience.
Gist of Idea
If legislators confiscate property, or enslave people, they are no longer owed obedience
Source
John Locke (Second Treatise of Government [1690], 222)
Book Reference
Locke,John: 'Two Treatises of Government' [Everyman 1988], p.229
A Reaction
This might fit Louis XVI in 1788. Locke was certainly not averse to consideration the situations in which revolution might be justified. He was trying to be even-handed about 1642. Locke seems to think that without property you ARE a slave.
Related Idea
Idea 19905 People stripped of their property are legitimately subject to despotism [Locke]