How does Smith’s idea of the government’s role compare to John Locke’s ideas about the government ?

Explanation:

It is within the newly liberated England of the Glorious Revolution that we meet John Locke, the father of classical liberalism. Classical liberalism is the original name for the political philosophy we now call libertarianism. The main reason for the name change is that the words "liberalism" and "liberals" invoke an entirely different meaning in modern politics. Libertarianism is a good substitute, since it holds the pursuit and protection of liberty above all else.

John Locke published his "Second Treatise of Government" in 1690. In it, he argues that the only role of government is to protect our natural rights, namely the rights to "Lives, Liberties and Estates" [source: Boaz]. Like other early libertarian thinkers, he argued that these natural rights superseded manmade rights, and that no ruler or government could seek to remove these "inalienable rights" [source: Boaz].