Final answer:
The Founding Fathers were influenced by the social contract theory, which emphasized the protection of individual rights, resulting in the creation of the Constitution that aimed to balance the powers of government while safeguarding personal freedoms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The social contract theory, as developed by philosophers like John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, had a significant influence on the Founding Fathers when they were creating the Constitution of the United States. The concept of a social contract implies that individuals consent to surrender some of their freedoms and submit to the authority of the government in exchange for protection of their remaining rights. This framework guided the Founders in the establishment of a government that aimed to protect individual rights, suggesting that the correct answer to the student's question is:
d. They created a Constitution with the purpose of protecting individual rights.
The Founders integrated this philosophy into the Constitution by incorporating checks and balances as inspired by Montesquieu, acknowledging natural rights as stated by Locke, and aiming for a balance between a strong central government and states' rights. The result was a federal government structure that delineated powers among different branches and enshrined a Bill of Rights to protect individual liberties, ultimately based on the idea that government must ensure the liberty and equality of its citizens.