How the Teachings of Rousseau laid the foundations of democracy in France?

Rousseau’s famous work Social Contract helped laid the foundations of democracy.

Reasons:

(i) He upheld the doctrine of popular sovereignty.

(ii)He believed government should be based on the consent of the governed.

(iii) In his work ‘Social Contract’, he talks of a contract between the ruler and the ruled. Implied in his writings was the belief that men had the right to change their government if they were not satisfied. This is one of the cardinal principal of democracy.

(iv) Rousseaus revolutionary ideas of democracy in the age of absolute monarchy not only paved the way for the French revolution but encouraged people to fight for their rights and set up a government responsive to their needs.