Which Enlightenment thinker greatly influenced the Founding Fathers' views on government and rights?

The Enlightenment thinker who greatly influenced the Founding Fathers' views on government and rights is John Locke. Locke's philosophy emphasized the concept of natural rights, including life, liberty, and property, which he argued should be protected by the government. He believed that a government's legitimacy comes from the consent of the governed and that individuals have the right to revolt against oppressive governments. This idea was foundational for the development of democratic principles in the United States, particularly as articulated in the Declaration of Independence. The Founding Fathers adopted Locke's theories to justify their break from Britain and to establish a government based on the protection of individual rights and the notion of popular sovereignty.

While Thomas Hobbes also contributed to political philosophy, his views on a strong, central authority contrasted with the more liberal ideas of Locke. Karl Marx's theories emerged much later and focused primarily on class struggle and economic factors rather than individual rights within a democratic framework. Voltaire, while an important Enlightenment figure known for his advocacy of freedom of speech and separation of church and state, did not have the same direct influence on the concept of government and rights as Locke did.