Question

1. what principle did the declaration of independence draw from enlightenment ideas?

a divine right of kings
b the social contract
c theocracy
d hereditary monarchy

1. according to enlightenment thinkers, why do governments exist?

a to maximize the wealth of the ruling class
b to protect the natural rights of citizens
c to maintain a rigid social hierarchy
d to promote religious dogma

1. what did montesquieus ideas contribute to the u.s. constitution?

a the idea of universal suffrage
b the concept of checks and balances
c the promotion of absolute monarchy
d the establishment of a theocratic state

1. what principles were foundational to the american constitutional republic as estab - lished by the declaration of independence?

a centralized power and authoritarian rule
b individual liberty, equality, and popular sovereignty
c monarchy and aristocracy
d oligarchy and censorship

Explanation:

1. The Declaration of Independence drew from Enlightenment ideas such as the social contract. The social contract theory posits that people give up some rights to a government in exchange for protection of their natural rights. The Declaration emphasizes that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, which is in line with social - contract thinking. Divine right of kings (a) is a pre - Enlightenment idea where kings claim authority from God. Theocracy (c) is a government based on religious law, and hereditary monarchy (d) is a non - Enlightenment form of governance where power is passed down within a family.
2. Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke believed that governments exist to protect the natural rights (life, liberty, property) of citizens. Maximizing the wealth of the ruling class (a) is more in line with pre - Enlightenment or non - Enlightened autocratic views. Maintaining a rigid social hierarchy (c) goes against Enlightenment ideas of equality. Promoting religious dogma (d) is not a core Enlightenment purpose of government, as many Enlightenment thinkers advocated for religious tolerance and separation of church and state.
3. Montesquieu's ideas, especially in "The Spirit of the Laws", contributed the concept of checks and balances. He argued that power should be divided among different branches (legislative, executive, judicial) to prevent tyranny. Universal suffrage (a) was not a Montesquieu idea (it came later in the democratic evolution). He was against absolute monarchy (c), and the establishment of a theocratic state (d) is not related to his work.
4. The American constitutional republic, as established by the Declaration of Independence, was founded on principles of individual liberty (people have inherent rights), equality (all men are created equal in the Declaration's context, though the full realization took time), and popular sovereignty (government by the people). Centralized power and authoritarian rule (a) are the opposite of what the Declaration and the later Constitution aimed for. Monarchy and aristocracy (c) are non - republican forms. Oligarchy and censorship (d) are also against the democratic and rights - based principles of the American system.

Answer:

1. B. The social contract
2. B. To protect the natural rights of citizens
3. B. The concept of checks and balances
4. B. Individual liberty, equality, and popular sovereignty