*the social contract's terms, when they are well understood, can be reduced to a single stipulation: the individual
member alienates himself totally to the whole community together with all his rights. this is first because
conditions will be the same for everyone when each individual gives himself
once this multitude is united this way into a body, an offense against one of its members is an offense against
the body politic. it would be even less possible to injure the body without its members feeling it. duty and
interest thus equally require the two contracting parties to aid each other mutually. the individual people should
be motivated from their double roles as individuals and members of the body, to combine all the advantages
which mutual aid offers "
- from the social contract, jean jacques rousseau, 1763
how did rousseau's the social contract influence early american documents such as the declaration of
independence?
a) the social contract describes government as most effective with a strong
authoritarian leader in charge.
b) the social contract actually was influenced by the declaration of
independence as it was written well after it.
c) the social contract provided an example of old regime beliefs that the
new american system was diligent in removing itself from.
d) the social contract emphasizes the role of equality among men and giving
up personal rights in exchange for government protection.