How did popular sovereignty influence the American Declaration of Independence?

The concept of popular sovereignty—the principle that government is created by and subject to the will of the people—was foundational to the American Declaration of Independence, though the specific term was not coined until the mid-19th century.12

The Declaration drew heavily upon the political philosophy of John Locke, who argued that legitimate government is based on the social contract and the consent of the governed. By asserting that governments derive their "just powers" from this consent, the document established that the ultimate source of sovereign power resides with the people rather than the monarch.34

Consequently, the Declaration argued that when a government violates the fundamental rights of its citizens, the people possess the right and duty to alter or abolish that government and institute a new one. This formal assertion marked a historic shift, as the American colonists proclaimed their right to a government of their own choice, effectively acting as a body politic to challenge the authority of George III.34