Both the American colonists and the citizenry of France were inspired by the idea of popular sovereignty. Which statement best defines this idea? Popular sovereignty is the idea that a country's leader rules by permission of a majority of that country's citizens. Popular sovereignty is the idea that a monarchy only rules when the people believe that he is the son of a king. Popular sovereignty is the idea that people in a country must protect and defend one another. Popular sovereignty is the idea that people have the right to overthrow a government that does not seem powerful enough.