What did Jean-Jacques Rousseau mean by the “general will”?(1 point)

Responses

the political preference of the public
the political preference of the public

the decisions of the legislature
the decisions of the legislature

the inalienable rights of individuals
the inalienable rights of individuals

the desires of the king

the political preference of the public

Which statement correctly analyzes how Enlightenment thinker Thomas Hobbes’s ideas impacted the American Revolution?(1 point)

Responses

Colonists revolted when their rights to life, liberty, and property were ignored by the king.
Colonists revolted when their rights to life, liberty, and property were ignored by the king.

Thomas Hobbes’s ideas on liberty, equality, and fraternity became the rallying cry of the American Revolution.
Thomas Hobbes’s ideas on liberty, equality, and fraternity became the rallying cry of the American Revolution.

Thomas Hobbes rewrote the founding document of the revolution to include women, emphasizing equality.
Thomas Hobbes rewrote the founding document of the revolution to include women, emphasizing equality.

Colonists felt that their agreement with the king had been broken when he violated their rights.

Colonists felt that their agreement with the king had been broken when he violated their rights.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau's concept of the "general will" refers to the political preference of the public. To understand what Rousseau meant by the general will, we can refer to his book "The Social Contract." Rousseau argues that the general will represents the collective interests and common good of the entire society. It is a democratic idea that emphasizes the sovereignty of the people. According to Rousseau, the general will is different from the sum of individual wills because it takes into account the impartial and objective interests of the community as a whole rather than the desires of any particular group or individual. Rousseau believed that decisions made in accordance with the general will would ensure the well-being and freedom of all members of society.