The Enlightenment thinkers were the second group of people to realize that the government is supposed to lead the people, not be the supreme power over them. (the second group was the English monarch in the 1200's).
After the Declaration of Independence was signed, people all over the world began to realize that the government is not powerful without it's people, and if they cannot prove thyself worthy enough to give the people what they deserve and treat each man (later this would extend to women as well) equally. People are people, and their position does not change that.
