... to reform the tax system and the economy more generally. The writings of Rousseau, especially his work The Social Contract, laid out a basis for a representative government. After the revolution there was a declaration of rights based on reason not privilege. He argued that the only moral and legitimate government was one based on popular sovereignty and which conformed to the General Will, i.e. a government is only legitimate if it has the express consent of the people and enforces laws that reflect the true will of every citizen. Other Enlightened ideas questioned the existing institutions and structures in society, and they suggested some alternatives: religious toleration instead of Catholic intolerance; freedom of speech & the press instead of censorship; free trade & a uniform system of taxation instead of customs' barriers and privileged tax exemption, constitutional monarchy instead of divine right abolitionism; and careers open to talent rather ...

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