Rousseau's The Social Contract influenced the American and French Revolutions by

Rousseau's The Social Contract influenced the American and French Revolutions by

• A. They encouraged loyalty to established governments
• B. They supported movements for social and political change
• C. They encouraged the formation of American and French constitutional monarchies
• D. They supported the efforts of governments to maintain control over their subjects

Answer: (B)

Rousseau’s Social Contract centers on the idea that legitimate political authority comes from the people and must reflect the general will, or the common good. When rulers fail to protect citizens’ rights or ignore the people’s will, communities have a basis to seek change and remaking government. This framework gave both American and French thinkers a powerful justification for challenging old rules and pursuing broad social and political reform—liberty, equality, and popular participation—rather than simply accepting existing power structures. That focus on consent and collective sovereignty is why the revolutions aligned with movements for change, rather than unwavering loyalty to rulers, attempts to preserve monarchies, or efforts to keep subjects under tight control.

Rousseau’s Social Contract centers on the idea that legitimate political authority comes from the people and must reflect the general will, or the common good. When rulers fail to protect citizens’ rights or ignore the people’s will, communities have a basis to seek change and remaking government. This framework gave both American and French thinkers a powerful justification for challenging old rules and pursuing broad social and political reform—liberty, equality, and popular participation—rather than simply accepting existing power structures. That focus on consent and collective sovereignty is why the revolutions aligned with movements for change, rather than unwavering loyalty to rulers, attempts to preserve monarchies, or efforts to keep subjects under tight control.