The main focus of the Enlightenment concerning the role of government was the belief in rationalism, individual rights, and the social contract. Enlightenment thinkers advocated for governments to be built on principles of reason and justice, promoting the idea that authority should derive from the consent of the governed. Philosophers such as Locke, Rousseau, and Montesquieu emphasized that government should protect individual freedoms and promote the common good. This period fostered discussions on democracy, checks and balances, and the importance of civil liberties, ultimately inspiring revolutionary movements and significantly influencing modern political systems.