Question

Enlightenment philosophers such as John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau challenged the idea of the divine right of kings. They wrote about a government’s obligations to uphold people’s rights and how the government should be based on the consent of the governed.
What did these new ideas encourage people to do?

A. Look for leaders who would exercise do rational powers

B. Engage in revolutions to establish democratic governments

C. Call for church leaders to create theocracies and replace the monarchies

Answer 1

Answer:

The correct response is Option B: Engage in revolutions to establish democratic governments.

Explanation:

John Locke argued that people have natural rights like life and liberty that are inalienable in the sense that we all have them and they are universal and independent of whatever society in which we live.   Having a political government is legitimate when people enter into a social contract with the government giving up some of their natural rights vis-a-vis the authority of the government so that their lives and possessions are more secure and there is order to society. Revolution is justified when the systems are monarchical or theocratic and where natural rights are being denied and there is no social contract. Rousseau had a similar philosophy and is famous for this statement: "Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains." Rousseau believed in direct democracy where every citizen should decide and not delegate decisions to elected representatives.  Both thinkers were important to revolutions of the day like the French and American Revolutions.