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Enlightenment Era Dbq

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Recommended: The period of enlightenment

From the late 1500’s to the late 1700’s, the Enlightenment period occurred. Thinkers and philosophers across Europe created ideas that changed the way people thought. For example, John Locke thought of the idea that everyone had natural rights. These rights consisted of the right to life, liberty, and property. Voltaire had the idea that the power lies in the hands of the people and their elected government. Benjamin Franklin, who had a great influence on the new government in the Americas as he told the ideas of government structure that he thought was better. Without these three people and their thoughts, the world wouldn't be the way it is today. John Locke was an English political theorist who focused on the structure of government. He …show more content…

He thought that the power lies in the hands of the people and their elected government officials. He also believed that there should be an elected president in place of a monarch. These thoughts helped the people have more power and can control who they think is capable to be in charge of them. This also gave the people the option to change their leader if the people find him not good enough to rule. This could help the people to have a say on taxes and other laws they oppose. For example, if a monarch wanted to tax his people he could and no one could tell him not to. But if a president wanted to tax his people would vote for the president with the lowest taxes and better ideals in which they will decide to accept to by making him in charge. Benjamin Franklin was an American thinker that had a great connection with Europe and America. He exchanged ideas between Europe and the colonies and had extensive knowledge in government and how it affects the people and their happiness. Franklin had a profound influence on the formation of the new government. With his help he assisted in the formation of a new government in the colonies. Which also formed a basic foundation for the modern government that we see

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Washington’s “right-hand man,” wrote the majority of the Federalist Papers, which were essays supporting ratification of the Constitution and became a leading member of the Federalist party where he favored a stronger federal gov’t and loose construction. Benjamin Franklin- Created the Albany Plan which would create a centralized gov’t of the

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Benjamin Franklin started to have an active interest for politics in the 1750s. He went to England in 1757 to represent Pennsylvania in its fight with the Penn family over who should represent the colony. He also remained in England from 1775 as a colonial representative for Pennsylvania, but also Georgia, New Jersey, and Massachusetts, which is pretty impressive. In 1775. Franklin was surprised to America 's opposition to the Stamp Act.

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He also created the foundation of the Social Compact theory of government which states that the governed give power to the government, not the other way around. He did so by writing

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Some of the thinkers talked about government, that wasn’t a monarchy. For example Montesquieu believed in separation of powers. Leading to the Constitution that included his ideas. Adam Smith's idea over government not messing with the free economy led to the Boston tea party. The revolution was a revolt between the colonies and Britain for independence.

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European politics, philosophy, and science were radically changed during the 17th and 18th centuries during a period called the Enlightenment. Enlightenment thinkers throughout Europe questioned cultural norms and embraced the notion that humanity could be improved through rational change. Science had been mostly a male field of study during this age. It was extremely rare for women to enter this field, but during the Enlightenment, the idea that the minds of women can equal that of men became more popular. Many people believed that women did not have the intelligence to be involved in science, while some others believed that even if women could be held on the same intellectual level as men, it was socially unacceptable; on the other hand,

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Benjamin Franklin played many roles rather than just being the president. He was well known in the eighteenth century, especially in the western world of the eighteenth century. At the time Benjamin Franklin was the center for everyone and there is no doubt he was a piviotal part of many people’s lives. Benjamin Franklin lived in heart’s of many for many reasons in particularly for his hard work in gaining independence for the United States. Franklin also had a hand in establishing the U.S. as a nation.

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Benjamin franklin was a great man. One of the founding fathers, he was one of the most respected figures in American History. Franklin was one of the engineering mind behind the early success of our nation. As a diplomat, he worked tirelessly to add structure to our young and ambitious union. Franklin was also one of the most emblematic leader of the United States of America .

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The European Enlightenment (also known as the Age of Reason) took place before 1750 and was shaped by the principles of the Scientific Revolution that embraced human reason. Enlightenment thinkers believed that principles of reason and nature should be applied to the governance of a country (popular sovereignty), people’s natural rights, social contract, and societal structure. These theorists of the Enlightenment challenged accepted and traditional thinking (monarchial governments, aristocratic power) and established politics and society based on the laws of reason and nature. Nevertheless, these Enlightenment ideas motivated and influenced feminist movements and the Atlantic Revolutions. Although conservatives sought to preserve the traditional

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He would also reduce the burdens placed on the people by the government, and encourage agriculture over commerce. He believed "an alert citizenry, a vigorous militia, and strong state governments were the foundation upon which to build America's future" (Keene, 194). His ideas about a government influenced the way our country is run

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Ben Franklin was the pioneer of this idea and thus made a large contribution to the American identity through his ideas and hard work. At the time that Benjamin Franklin lived, the idea of complete freedom was revolutionary. Most countries still had a strict class structure and dramatic changes between classes were very few and far between. Ben Franklin felt that anyone should have the chance to change their socioeconomic

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Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin was the founder of the United States of America. He was a renowned printer, author, politician, inventor, scientist and diplomat. He was the part of the American Enlightenment and also the part of history of physics as he discovered theories for the invention of electricity. In Philadelphia, he was the successful newspaper editor and printer.

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His contribution of ideas has helped the human race improve their methods of government

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It even allowed for the Kings/Queens to be better leaders for they could resolve issues pertaining to the people without religious influence.. Later on Machiavelli ideas impacted other revolutions to rise above Kings/ Queens being in power and giving it to the people. With the help of Machiavelli, John Locke’s ideas too impacted the transition of power.

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The Common Sense pamphlet was written by Thomas Paine he was an editor for the Pennsylvanian magazine. The Declaration of Independence was written by Thomas Jefferson. These two authors, Paine and Jefferson got their ideas from the Enlightenment philosophers Voltaire, Locke, Rousseau, and Montesquieu. One philosopher’s ideas that was found in both documents was Voltaire.

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As a result, Benjamin Franklin is a wise man, in order to create trusts from the members of the congress, he utilizes his ethos by accepting his fallibilities and willing to do good for the constitution to be

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