Question

Question 10 of 10

Which passage from the Declaration of Independence most clearly reflects
the Enlightenment principle of addressing a broken social contract?
OA. They are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,
that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
OB. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created
equal.
C. That whenever any Form f Government becomes destructive of
these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it.
O D. We mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our
sacred Honor.
SUBMIT

Answer 1

The passage reflecting the Enlightenment concept of a broken social contract in the Declaration of Independence is 'C. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it.' because it embodies the idea that people have the right to change a failing government.

Step-by-step explanation:

The passage from the Declaration of Independence that most clearly reflects the Enlightenment principle of addressing a broken social contract is:

C. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it.

This statement directly connects to the ideas of the social contract theorists like John Locke, who argued that governments exist to protect the rights of the people, and when they fail to do so, it is the right and even the duty of the people to alter or abolish the government. This concept is at the heart of the Declaration's reasoning for independence, as it cites a "long train of abuses and usurpations" by the British Crown as justification for the American colonies to establish a new government that would better protect their inalienable rights and happiness.