<P> Popular sovereignty in its modern sense , is an idea that dates to the social contracts school ( mid-17th to mid-18th centuries ) , represented by Thomas Hobbes ( 1588 -- 1679 ) , John Locke ( 1632 -- 1704 ) , and Jean - Jacques Rousseau ( 1712 -- 1778 ) , author of The Social Contract , a prominent political work that clearly highlighted the ideals of `` general will '' and further matured the idea of popular sovereignty . The central tenet is that legitimacy of rule or of law is based on the consent of the governed . Popular sovereignty is thus a basic tenet of most Republics . Hobbes , Locke and Rousseau were the most influential thinkers of this school , all postulating that individuals choose to enter into a social contract with one another , thus voluntarily giving up some of their natural freedom in return for protection from dangers derived from the freedom of others . Whether men were seen as naturally more prone to violence and rapine ( Hobbes ) or cooperation and kindness ( Rousseau ) , the idea that a legitimate social order emerges only when the liberties and duties are equal among citizens binds the social contract thinkers to the concept of popular sovereignty . </P>
<P> Popular sovereignty in its modern sense , is an idea that dates to the social contracts school ( mid-17th to mid-18th centuries ) , represented by Thomas Hobbes ( 1588 -- 1679 ) , John Locke ( 1632 -- 1704 ) , and Jean - Jacques Rousseau ( 1712 -- 1778 ) , author of The Social Contract , a prominent political work that clearly highlighted the ideals of `` general will '' and further matured the idea of popular sovereignty . The central tenet is that legitimacy of rule or of law is based on the consent of the governed . Popular sovereignty is thus a basic tenet of most Republics . Hobbes , Locke and Rousseau were the most influential thinkers of this school , all postulating that individuals choose to enter into a social contract with one another , thus voluntarily giving up some of their natural freedom in return for protection from dangers derived from the freedom of others . Whether men were seen as naturally more prone to violence and rapine ( Hobbes ) or cooperation and kindness ( Rousseau ) , the idea that a legitimate social order emerges only when the liberties and duties are equal among citizens binds the social contract thinkers to the concept of popular sovereignty . </P>
where did the idea of popular sovereignty come from
where did the idea of popular sovereignty come from
the social contracts school ( mid-17th to mid-18th centuries ) , represented by Thomas Hobbes ( 1588 -- 1679 ) , John Locke ( 1632 -- 1704 ) , and Jean - Jacques Rousseau ( 1712 -- 1778 )
the social contracts school ( mid-17th to mid-18th centuries ) , represented by Thomas Hobbes ( 1588 -- 1679 ) , John Locke ( 1632 -- 1704 ) , and Jean - Jacques Rousseau ( 1712 -- 1778 )