Question

french soldiers brought home ideas about government and rights from the american revolution, including news of the declaration of independence. one of the ideas presented in the declaration of independence is equality for all. englishman thomas hobbes and which other enlightenment thinker proposed this idea?

rosseau

montesquieu

locke

voltaire

Explanation:

• Rosseau: Focused on the social contract and general will, not primarily on equality in the same sense as the Declaration of Independence's inspiration.
• Montesquieu: Known for the separation of powers, not for the core equality idea relevant here.
• Locke: His ideas about natural rights (life, liberty, property) and the equality of all men in the state of nature were highly influential. The Declaration of Independence's concept of equality for all was inspired by Enlightenment thinkers like Locke, who argued that all individuals are born equal in certain fundamental rights.
• Voltaire: Focused more on freedom of speech, religion, etc., not the central equality concept in the context of the Declaration of Independence's inspiration.

Answer:

Locke