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How Did The Enlightenment Influence The American Revolution

1523 Words7 Pages

Caitlin Phillips
Ms. Teague
World History Honors
April 18, 2018 The Enlightenment Thinkers
Enlightenment is a new intellectual movement that stressed reason, thought and individual problem solving abilities. The significance of the Enlightenment is the belief in progress, importance of individuals, and that human reason could always solve problems, open questioning of religious belief, and to rely solely on themselves. The American Revolution was caused by John Locke's teachings,natural rights, social contract, and revolutions. One of the most famous revolutions in the American Revolution is The French and Indian War(1684-1763) this war was fought between France and England for land in America. England won the war but left with a …show more content…

Salutary neglect led to Taxation because England needed to pay off their debt so the King issued the Sugar Act of 1764 and the Stamp Act of 1765. The American Revolution created a domino effect because colonist had been the first successful rebellion against a monarch ever and it led to other rebellions and revolutions. John Locke, Voltaire and Montesquieu influenced the American founding documents through their ideas of natural rights, freedom of speech and religion, and through separation of power. John Locke influenced the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence by his ideas of the Natural rights of man. John Locke was the exact opposite of Thomas Hobbes who believed that humans were naturally selfish and wicked and that in exchange for law and order, people must give up some rights , John Locke believed humans are naturally reasonable and he believed humans were born equal and free. John Locke influences amendment two …show more content…

Montesquieu influenced the constitution section three by stating “ The Vice President of the United States shall be president of the senate, but shall have no vote, unless they be equally divided.” This how's Montesquieu division of power belief among the government and preventing an absolute monarch. Article one of the Constitution states “All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a senate government by showing that the legislative branch will consist of a senate and House of Representatives. This shows Montesquieu belief of separation of power in the Section ten of the Constitution is influenced by Montesquieu by stating “ No state shall, without the consent of Congress” which shows they can't do anything without consent from Congress. Article V of the Constitution states “ The juhe separation of power that Montesquieu believed in and this is shown by stating that judicial power of the United States shall be vested in one supreme court, and in such inferior court as the congress may from time to time ordain and establish. This shows Montesquieu's belief in the division of power among different branches of the government. Montesquieu influenced the Bill of Right in amendment ten which shows Montesquieu influence by showing a separation of power that goes to the people and the states. Amendment

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