Origins of Ideas That Form the Basis of the American Governmental Tradition The ideas that form the basis of the American governmental tradition have come from a number of different sources including Voltaire, John Locke, was from England. He believed in the Natural Rights of Life, Liberty and Property for the people. Locke’s idea’s of Natural Rights was adapted into the U.S. Political Structure through the Bill of Rights ( a formal list of citizens rights and freedoms ). It says in the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights, “ Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exerc