The passage that most clearly reflects the Enlightenment principle of addressing a broken social contract is where Thomas Jefferson asserts that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed and that it is the right of the people to alter or abolish any government that becomes destructive to these ends. This idea emphasizes the belief that individuals have the authority to challenge and change their government if it fails to protect their rights, a core tenet of Enlightenment thought. It underscores the notion that government must serve the people, and when it fails to do so, the social contract is considered violated.
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