Did Jean-Jacques Rousseau Contribute To The Enlightenment?

The United States was created off the idea of a free nation. These ideas were known as the enlightenment. The enlightenment was an intellectual vast movement taken place during the 18th century. During the enlightenment period the rich built salons in their houses to share music and the arts with others. This era also filled itself with many exceptional people such as John Locke, Adam Smith, Rousseau, Paine, Montesquieu, Beccaria, and Hobbes, all of them with new insightful thoughts of their own. If it was not for our founding fathers and their philosophies the United States would not be an outstanding wonderful country it is today. Thomas Hobbes is known as one of the first modern western thinkers of his time period. Hobbes believed

Rousseau wanted to go by the majority rules government whatever the majority of the people wanted should become a law. Rousseau felt that the education systems was not good and that it needed to be change (Rousseau wanted to abolish education). Rousseau wanted people to learn from the world first hand not through a book. Rousseau believed that children should be allowed to express their emotion so they can become a “well-rounded and freethinking individual” (power point). Rousseau’s educational plan was seen as “impractical” (power point). Rousseau’s idea of individual freedom made itself known throughout the United States and Europe. He completely disagreed with absolute power and the government and religion mixing. Beccaria believed if you were accused of a crime you should still have rights. Beccaria was against the death penalty he thought it was wrong, he felt the only way to reduce crime was education. He also played an importance to a couple of our Ten amendments #6 the right to a speedy trial meaning you have the right to see a judge in a timely manner. #8 cruel and unusual punishment he believed that the punishment should be the same for everyone who did the same crime. Beccaria’s idea flourished throughout the country ultimately changing European and American criminal