Which document is central to Enlightenment thinking about government?

The Declaration of Independence is central to Enlightenment thinking about government because it embodies the principles of natural rights, social contracts, and the idea of government deriving its power from the consent of the governed. Influenced by Enlightenment philosophers like John Locke, the Declaration asserts that all individuals possess inherent rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, which government must protect.

It emphasizes the notion that people have the right to overthrow a government that does not secure their rights, illustrating the Enlightenment belief in individual autonomy and resistance to tyranny. The document articulates the values that informed revolutionary thought and helped to shape democratic ideals during the Enlightenment, making it a foundational text in the evolution of modern governance.

While the Constitution outlines the framework for the U.S. government and the Federalist Papers discuss the principles behind that framework, the Declaration of Independence serves as the philosophical cornerstone of American democracy. The Articles of Confederation, on the other hand, primarily addressed the functioning of the government rather than the underlying principles concerning individual rights and the social contract.