Final answer:
The Enlightenment was a philosophical movement that heralded the political concept of the social contract and a government based on an agreement between citizens and leaders. It emphasized reason, liberty, and progress, and significantly influenced modern democracy and constitutional governance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Enlightenment was a philosophical movement that included the political concept of government as an agreement between the citizens and a country's leaders. Originating in Europe during the 18th century, the Enlightenment emphasized reason as the primary source of authority and legitimacy. It promoted values such as liberty, progress, tolerance, fraternity, constitutional government, and the separation of church and state. A key element of this movement was the notion of the social contract, advanced by philosophers like John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, which posited that government is a mutual agreement between the governed and those who govern.
The Enlightenment marked a significant shift from the idea of divine right of kings to the modern understanding of popular sovereignty. It ushered in a period where many began questioning the long-held political and philosophical tenets, which contributed to shaping modern democratic governance. The philosophers of this era, notably Voltaire and Montesquieu, also brought forth ideas such as the separation of powers within government, which greatly influenced the formation of the United States Constitution.