Jean Jacques
Rousseau had a major impact on modern governments through the advancement of the philosophy of
social contract. Through his work he was able to transform mostly despotic government
institutions into democratic institutions based on individual freedoms. He also participated in
the advancement of the Enlightenment era, a period when the people challenged the existing
authority structures and other facets of human life.
The social contract as
envisioned by Rousseau sought to describe the framework used in establishing leadership
structures among the populace. He suggested that no legitimate government should exist without
the general will of the people. This was because since the people relinquished equal rights
making them the governed, it would only be right if they gave their consent to be governed. His
idea made it possible for the masses to challenge the legitimacy of the set structures
especially monarchies. This led to revolutions such as the French Revolution which can be traced
back to his ideology. The social contract can also be seen in the American Declaration of
Independence when the Founding Fathers sought to establish a government for and by the people of
the United States.
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