Differences among the Enlightenment Philosophers The Enlightenment philosophers shared many ideas about the social contract, but they had their differences. Thomas Hobbes believed that governments got the power to rule from the people, rather than from God. He called this the social contract. However, he also thought that a government’s power was absolute. The people could not take back the power after giving it away. For this reason, Rousseau thought the only fair and reasonable government was a democratic community in which every citizen shared in the process of making laws.

John Locke and Charles de Montesquieu agreed that governments could rule only by consent of the people. However, Locke believed that if a government abused its power, the social contract was broken. The people then had the right to revolt and form a new government. Locke considered the legislature to be the most “supreme” power of a government. Montesquieu disagreed with Locke on this point. He argued that balancing the executive and the legislative powers was essential for an effective government.

Read this summary, which analyzes some of the differences among Enlightenment thinkers’ views about the social contract and the powers of government. Write 3-5 paragraphs answering the questions that follow.

What does the summary say about Hobbes’s, Locke’s, Montesquieu’s, and Rousseau’s views of the social contract and the powers of government?

How do the primary sources from Part A support this summary? Be sure to use evidence from the sources to support your answers.

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