Rousseau’s beliefs coincided with the beliefs of other Enlightenment thinkers. This is shown when he writes, “Duty and interest thus equally require the two contracting parties [the people and the government] to aid each other mutually” (Document 3). In that period of history, it was typical for people to be ruled by a monarch and they had very little say, if any, in the laws and policies that impacted their day to day life. Rousseau felt that the system was outdated and it made citizens feel as if they were living in someone else’s home rather than their own, so he theorized that by fabricating a system in which the government and the people are forced to work together, it creates a sense of unity and equality. This works because “ … an offense against one of its members is an offense against the body politic.
Rousseau’s beliefs coincided with the beliefs of other Enlightenment thinkers. This is shown when he writes, “Duty and interest thus equally require the two contracting parties [the people and the government] to aid each other mutually” (Document 3). In that period of history, it was typical for people to be ruled by a monarch and they had very little say, if any, in the laws and policies that impacted their day to day life. Rousseau felt that the system was outdated and it made citizens feel as if they were living in someone else’s home rather than their own, so he theorized that by fabricating a system in which the government and the people are forced to work together, it creates a sense of unity and equality. This works because “ … an offense against one of its members is an offense against the body politic.
The Enlightenment began in Europe in the 18th century; American colonists believed that God’s greatest gift to mankind was reason which allowed people to follow the moral teachings of Jesus. The Enlightenment challenged the role of religion and divine right and this helped Colonial America to see that it was possible to challenge God and divine right. The movement challenged the role of God and allowed people to see that they were important and had the ability to shape their own lives. The Great Awakening ended up weakening the importance of clergy as believers started relying on their own conclusions.
The Enlightenment ideas influenced the American Revolution, French Revolution and Latin American wars for independence. They were affected by gaining liberty, equality, fraternity and many more ideas. All of these ideas are very important and truly affected them. The American Revolution was heavily affected by Enlightenment ideas.
The Enlightenment was a movement of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. It was a time period where people came up with ideas of freedom. The direct meaning of the Enlightenment was to focus on equality and independence. There were in total 10 philosophers who expanded after one another. These thinkers valued reason, religious tolerance, science, and what they call “Natural Rights”.
“It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in huge numbers and to the sound of trumpets,” Inquired Voltaire, one of many early philosophers that inspire and helped to promote new ideas. Early philosophers helped set the stage for enlightenment. These new ideas had people questioning the church and their rule. Imagine saying that every one in the world is wrong and you are rite, early philosophers went through this every day. The enlightenment is an intellectual movement emphasizing reason and individualism rather than tradition, and gave philosophers a chance to express new ideas.
Consequently, a limited government was created in response to these new thoughts. Furthermore, this new type of government was extremely revolutionary because it changed the way that the citizens had thought or viewed about the government. Two Enlightenment philosophers that influenced the creation of the government were John Locke and Montesquieu. John Locke had the belief that everyone had natural rights (life, liberty, property) and that if the government failed to protect these rights, they could be overthrown and replaced. Also, Montesquieu’s idea of the separation of powers helped shape the government.
The Enlightenment was a revolution of ideas that changed perspectives and inspired people throughout the world to revolt against despotic forms of government. Some key ideas of the Enlightenment were equality, liberty, consent of the governed and freedom of thought. Enlightenment thinkers developed ambitious goals for humanity, but putting their ideas into practice was challenging within the framework of the societies in which they lived. This is why their ideas ignited revolutions. Colonial revolts based on Enlightenment ideas shook America in 1776 and Haiti in 1791.
The Enlightenment era ideas affected Americans not only in the religious aspect but also through education, politics, art, sciences, and industry. It was a period that roughly lasted from the 17th to the 19th century and is best known as an intellectual movement that emphasized reason, humanism, science, and skepticism. It is also known as “Age of Reason” due to so many scientific and intellectual discoveries and a new way to think that dwindled its way from Europe into the American society. A mark in history where people of the world grew independence from the church and started to challenge traditional religious ways and think with literalness. It was a revolution in science that made the people of the world question and test what was real
Enlightenment was created by the English philosopher John Locke. The ideas that were influenced by enlightenment were life, liberty, and property. This also gave to the idea of natural right. Enlightenment influenced the way people finally realized that divine right wasn’t right and start to doubt it. Throughout time enlightenment has influenced a lot of important events in history.
The European Enlightenment came from two simultaneous revolts from two different sides of the English Channel – France and England. The revolts resulted in many intellectual, educational and political advances. “Rather, enlightened read books and journals and frequented the coffeehouses, salons, Masonic lodges, and reading clubs that sprang up all over Europe and in the European colonies.” The age of Enlightenment is seen as a time period where people were able to invest time in more than just a job and family. The people who were leading this revolution are stereotyped as aristocrats.
The Age of Enlightenment was a philosophical movement beginning in France that stressed logic and reason as the basis of authority. The movement lasted through the 18th and 19th centuries. The movement brought along changes and leaders along with forever impacting world history. As stated above, the movement began in France and was inspired by King Louis XIV and his absolute control. He taxed many to starvation and poverty and built the Palace of Versaille to show off his wealth while believing he was made by God to be king.
Since the late 17th century, America has experienced new developments due to the act of The Enlightenment. The new thoughts, theories, and ideas of enlightenment shaped political attitudes. It was people like John Locke that continuously verbally fought about how the government should protect the rights of citizens. The citizens could rightly replace the government if the government has at all failed to do their job properly. United States constitution truly reflect the enlightenment principles.
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 was one of the biggest factors in shaping the United States government and one of the main causes of the French Revolution which is why it's important. Philosophers started expanding knowledge in a different direction than the Scientific Revolution, proposing laws and methods like the social contract. Philosophers like Montesquieu, Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and John Locke became the faces of the Enlightenment. This was significant because it helped complete the process of individuality and
