Enlightenment And Revolutions Practice Test

The idea being described is that governments legitimize their authority through a social contract with the people. The Declaration asserts that political power comes from the consent of the governed and exists to protect people’s natural rights. When a government betrays that trust by infringing on those rights, the people have the right to alter or abolish it and establish a new system that will better secure their safety and happiness. This reflects Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke, who argued that legitimate government is based on the consent of the governed and should be limited and accountable. So, while the document is connected to broader goals like a government that represents people and even justifies independence, the central Enlightenment concept it describes is the social contract between government and the people.