The struggle to create the perfect government has been prevalent throughout human history and has caused considerable turmoil and bloodshed for humanity. Despite thousands of years of progress, the challenge of finding the ideal government was still prevalent during the period of the Enlightenment. During the 18th century, numerous philosophers developed several new ideas about how the ideal government should carry out its tasks. Philosophers such as John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau, for example, conceived the idea of ​​a government in which the majority rules through a democratic system. A bloody conflict eventually put some of these ideas into practice. From the American Revolution the United States was born, and its foundations were based on many of the principles previously imagined by these philosophers. The Founding Fathers envisioned a government that would free them from the oppression of a tyrannical king, perpetually protect the civil liberties of its citizens, and ensure the safety and happiness of its people. Today, however, this government has struggled to achieve and maintain the ambitious goals set by the founding fathers. The democratic system of government conceived by thinkers like John Locke and established by Founding Fathers like Thomas Jefferson ultimately failed because it is overly ambitious, creates strong partisanship among the people, and is incapable of providing its citizens with basic necessities. they believed that the ideal government should ensure the happiness and security of its people, but the United States has consistently failed to maintain this vision due to the difficulty of maintaining the delicate balance of both of these principles. Thomas Jefferson...... middle of paper ....../document/index.htm>.Locke, John. “Republican Government”. The Founders' Constitution. Network. January 10, 2010. .Bensen, Amanda. “Poverty in America: A Nation, Falling Apart.” Penn State University. 05 August 2006. Web. 10 January 2010. .Toner, Robin. “Contempt for Bush Simmers in Democratic Strongholds.” New York Times 04 August 2003. Web. 10 January 2010. Rousseau, Jacques. "The social contract". Constitution Society. Network. January 10, 2010..Frates, Chris. "Rep. Foxx: More to fear from reform than terrorism." Political. 02 November 2009. Web. 10 January 2010. .