Which quote from the American Declaration of Independence reflects Enlightenment ideas?(1 point)
Responses
“The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.”
“The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.”
“He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.”
“He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.”
“In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury.”
“In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury.”
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.”
7 answers
Responses
The French stated that they had natural rights to life, liberty, and property.
The French stated that they had natural rights to life, liberty, and property.
The government was no longer serving them as many starved, therefore, they believed their agreement with their ruler had been violated.
The government was no longer serving them as many starved, therefore, they believed their agreement with their ruler had been violated.
They argued it was OK to break with one’s government if citizens had been mistreated.
They argued it was OK to break with one’s government if citizens had been mistreated.
Since consent to rule came from the people, the king could be overthrown when he violated his subjects’ rights.
Responses
People could grow wealth, but they could still be treated poorly based on race
People could grow wealth, but they could still be treated poorly based on race
People could not grow wealth, and could not go up in social classes
People could not grow wealth, and could not go up in social classes
People could gain power and status if they grew wealth
People could gain power and status if they grew wealth
People had equal privileges across all races
2. **Social Contract:** Another key concept from the Enlightenment that influenced the revolutions was the idea of the social contract. This theory, popularized by philosophers like John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, posited that the legitimacy of government is derived from the consent of the governed. If rulers violated their obligations to protect the rights of the people, then the people had the right to overthrow the government. This idea justified the revolutions by framing them as acts of resistance against tyrannical rulers who had breached the social contract with their subjects.
Overall, the Enlightenment’s emphasis on natural rights and the social contract provided the intellectual foundation for the revolutionary movements in America and France, inspiring people to challenge existing power structures and fight for greater freedom, equality, and justice.