How do people's thinking about their government change during the enlightenment?

During the Enlightenment, people's thinking about government shifted significantly as they began to emphasize reason, individual rights, and the social contract. Philosophers like john Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau argued that governments derived their authority from the consent of the governed, challenging the divine right of kings. This period fostered ideals of democracy and liberty, leading to increased questioning of traditional power structures and advocating for civic participation and the protection of personal freedoms. Ultimately, these ideas laid the groundwork for modern democratic thought and revolutions.