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Who was Jean-Jacques Rousseau?

Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) was an important French political philosopher during the Enlightenment period in Europe.  Rousseau is probably most known for his writing on social contract theory.  Rousseau stated that in nature, man is born completely free.  Since others will act selfishly, it is necessary to form a government.  This government, however, must have the consent of those that it governs.  


The relationship between the government and the governed is to be reciprocal. The individual grants the government certain freedoms and liberties but the government must not abuse this grant.  The theories of Rousseau were important to the founders of the United States.  His ideas are present in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States.  In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson writes that if a government does not represent its people fairly, the people have a right to seek a new government. Jefferson lists examples of how Britain did not have the consent of the people it was governing in the colonies.  This action, to declare independence from an unjust government, is what Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote about in the Social Compact.  

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