More handpicked essays just for you.
Voltaire+french revolution
Effects of enlightenment on french revolution
The enlightenment influenced the French revolution
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
With the changes seen in the economy, war & leaders, the Glorious Revolution of 1688 can be considered a part of the Enlightenment. Evidence shown through historical documents proves this stance. Although some historical events during the Glorious Revolution refute my stance, the Glorious Revolution was indeed a part of the Enlightenment because of the major shifts England had during and after this time period: Influencers, Religious tolerance and changes in governmental policies. Stated in the English Bill of Rights which were passed by Parliament and ratified by William III-King of England. “That the pretended power of suspending the laws or the execution of laws by royal authority without consent of Parliament is illegal”(Doc.3)
The influence of the enlightenment on the American Revolution In 1607, Great Britain established their first colony on today’s Virginia. Great Britain continuously increased number of North America colonies; in 1754, number of colonies was as much as 13. To increase number of colonies, Great Britain fought numerous wars, won most of the wars and became one of the most powerful nations in the world at that time. How dare only 13 colonies could stand up to unfair treatment and various kinds of taxes payment?
The sixteenth century America is primarily dominated by the Puritan idealism, but slowly through the year’s things are changing both in the religion and culture. In human nature the constant need for change is captivating, a change towards something new and different than the current. The events of the growing and changing eighteenth century America reflect just that. Ideas of the Enlightenment take deep root in the transformation of ideas about human’s relationship to God and to nature. Therefore, a deeply religious society starts transforming into a more secular culture, but religion still has quite a large influence.
Locke had stated that when an executive act for his own benefit, and not to serve the ends of the people. He “degrades himself” and becomes “but a single private person without power,” at which point he no longer has any right to rule over the people. Locke expresses the idea of rebellion against an unjust government. By giving the idea of rebellion, he also reveals that a human’s rights have changed over the years and that a man now has inherent rights. It was because of his declaration that the statement, “give me liberty or give me death,” become popular among the American people.
This sharing of power added ideas from the newly formed government that focused on the freedoms of citizens in England. Voltaire contended that the English government had successfully limited the power of the monarchy by affirming the power of the nobility, criticizing the French feudal system for its inability to share political power amongst the citizens of France (6). Advocating a limited monarchy to hold political discussions concerning the progress of the French government towards liberal reforms during the French Revolution. Voltaire as an enlightened philosophe, published papers about the rationality of the French government, which influenced his attitude towards the English constitutional monarchy that implemented the enlightened ideal of liberty. John Locke wrote that the purpose of electing legislative powers was to create laws and rules that protected the “properties of all the members of society,” a natural right of mankind (5).
John Locke was a key figure in the Enlightenment (which was at its peak at the time of the revolution), who stated that the government’s duty was to secure the rights of the people with the consent of the governed. If the government fails to do its duty, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to create a new one. Essentially, this was what the American Declaration of Independence revolved around; it calls out King George III on his acts that violates their values of equality and their unalienable rights and declares the independence of the thirteen
In the Passage , we were focused on the the natural rights that people have , for example one of these people were John Locke who was an english philosopher that was known for his natural rights because of his book the Two Treaties of the Government , his book was widely read , many of his ideas was used by the Founder’s and was used in the Declaration of Independence , after the victory of the Revolution War and writing their state constitution. Locke also have ideas about natural rights about what would it be to live in the state of nature , when he thought about natural rights he thought of three things in which people need the most in the state of nature , life in which where people need to survive and stay away and protected by threats
The Enlightenment Philosophers big focus on natural rights, as at the time it was a subject that needed to be focused on. John Locke stated that all men are naturally in a state of perfect,untouched freedom. This means that without government to interfere with the natural rights of the people men would be free to do as they please. Men would have the liberty to think, say, do “as they think fit, within the bounds of the law of nature”-John Locke. Though John does not directly say that all men should have equal rights he implies it when he says “Creatures of the same species and rank should also be equal”-John Locke.
Napoleon once said, “If you wish to be a success in the world, promise everything, deliver nothing.” It seemed that he was quite good at following his word as he disappointed the Enlightenment ideas that he promised to follow. The French Revolution was a conflict for equality and new ideas between the lowest social class and the nobility which lasted for ten years from 1789 to 1799. The war mainly stemmed from new ideas that the Enlightenment inspired discussing the natural rights of man. After the bulk of the fighting and political shifts of the French Revolution, Napoleon came to power through his military prowess.
Past upheaval and disruption in social, political, and economic realms in Europe allowed for a new period of healing and transformation in Europe. In the time period ranging from 1500 to 1800, Europe underwent extreme social, political and economic transformation. The transformation is shown socially through urbanization, the Protestant Reformation, and the Age of Enlightenment, politically through the emergence of absolute and constitutional monarchies, as well as the European State System, and economically through capitalism and a new market based economy, as well as the new putting out system. From 1500 to 1800, Europe experienced both the emergence of absolute and constitutional monarchies/republics, as well as the European state system.
Locke says that human nature needs to stand up for their natural rights so they will not be taken: “In Locke’s view, natural rights rest on the fact that in the state of nature individuals can freely use whatever nature offers in the way of shelter, comfort and sustenance. Natural law says what is allowed and forbidden to people given how things stand in nature” (Grayling 224). Locke says people have the right to their own natural rights and how they should never be taken away from them, but if they have their rights taken away, they have to defend themselves for them. Humans should not let anyone or any nation try to take away their natural rights, which people get when they are born and have for the rest of their lives since they are God given. John Locke believed that there should be religious toleration and “When Locke began his studies at Christ Church the dean was John Owen, a one-time Presbyterian and a strong advocate of religious toleration…it was commonly believed that Locke had always favored religious toleration”(Griffin 378).
The Founding Fathers rebelled against the British government for good reasons, which led to the American Revolution in 1783. The Founding Fathers were justified in rebelling against the Britain because the government was not protecting the rights of the citizens, taxing the colonists, and forced them to house British soldiers. In 1756 Britain put the first tax on the colonists. This was the Stamp Act, it required colonists to pay taxes on certain items such as newspapers, legal documents, licenses, and even playing cards.
In conclusion, the Enlightenment was vital to the American Revolution and the creation of American Government. The Enlightenment beliefs that influenced the American Revolution were natural rights, the social contract, and the right to overthrow the government if the social contract was violated. The Enlightenment beliefs that aided to the creation of the American government were separation of powers, checks and balances, and limited government. As stated before, without the Enlightenment there would not have been a revolution, resulting in no American Government. The Enlightenment’s influence on the creation of America is irrefutable.
The Enlightenment era, assumed to be the best movement of change and jaw dropping ideas. A time when Emanuel Schikaneder words traveled through a medium of wisdom and righteousness (para. ix). The time when church and state trembled to their knees and lost tremendous power. This marked the beginning of a new era , an era of understanding.
“Non sire, ce n’est pas une révolte, c’est une révolution.” This phrase, meaning “No sir, it’s not a revolt; it’s a revolution,” was stated by the Duke of Rochefoucauld as a response to King Louis XVI after the storming of the Bastille (Walton). Commenced by the storming of the Bastille, the French Revolution, a renowned period of political upheaval, began in 1789 and prevailed until 1799. Throughout the 18th century, France was dominated by the ancien régime, a political and social system characterized by monarchy and feudalism. Also during this time period, the Age of Enlightenment, a movement with a basis on reason, began to occur across Europe, and its ideology sparked contemplation among the citizens of France.
