Question

What impact did Thomas Hobbes have on the writers of the constitution?

1) He believed that people should have the right to elect their leader
2) He believed that it was government's job to protect the people
3) He believed that all people had inalienable rights
4) He believed that all people should revolt against weak leaders

Answer 1

Thomas Hobbes emphasized the need for a strong central authority to maintain order and avoid chaos, influencing the emphasis on a structured government in the U.S. Constitution. However, the framers were more directly influenced by John Locke's ideas which focused on the protection of individual rights and the consent of the governed.

Step-by-step explanation:

Impact of Thomas Hobbes on the Founding Fathers

Thomas Hobbes had a significant influence on the political philosophy underlying the U.S. Constitution, primarily through his concept of the social contract and the necessity of a strong central authority to avoid the chaos of the state of nature. While Hobbes himself did not believe in democratic rule or the inalienable rights of individuals, his ideas did present a stark contrast that helped to shape the thinking of the Constitution's framers.

They were more directly influenced by John Locke's rebuttals to Hobbes that stressed the importance of consent of the governed and the protection of individual rights, leading to a system of governance focused on safeguarding these rights.