Which statement correctly analyzes how Enlightenment thinker Thomas Hobbes’s ideas impacted the American Revolution?

Answer 1

One possible correct analysis of how Thomas Hobbes's ideas impacted the American Revolution is as follows:

Thomas Hobbes's ideas, as expressed in his major work "Leviathan," essentially argued for a strong central authority to maintain order and prevent the chaos that arises in a state of nature. This idea had a significant impact on the American Revolution as it directly conflicted with the principles of the revolutionaries who sought to establish a more democratic and decentralized society.

The American colonists, influenced by Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke, viewed government not as a necessary evil, but as a social contract designed to protect natural rights and promote individual liberty. Hobbes's idea of an absolute monarchy was counter to these ideals, and thus his ideas did not find much traction among the American revolutionaries.

Instead, the revolutionaries embraced Locke's ideas about limited government, consent of the governed, and the right to revolt against tyrannical rulers. For example, the Declaration of Independence, which served as the ideological foundation of the American Revolution, explicitly argues that governments derive their powers from the consent of the governed, echoing Locke's social contract theory.

In summary, while Thomas Hobbes's ideas were influential in shaping political thought, especially in Europe, they did not have a major impact on the American Revolution. The revolutionaries' focus on individual liberty, consent, and self-governance aligned more closely with the ideas of thinkers like Locke rather than Hobbes.