How Did The Enlightenment Influence The French Revolution

The events that occurred that were called the Enlightenment definitely had an effect on the American and French Revolutions. The role of the enlightenment in the French Revolution was to provide another way of thinking that questioned everything including the legitimacy of the monarchy. The role of the enlightenment in the American Revolution was to give America’s founding fathers a background knowledge for writing rules for a nation and to question Britain's rule.
The Enlightenment gave the American Revolution a backbone for the nation and here is why “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights” This is from the Declaration Of Independence and it is based off an enlightenment idea from John Locke which claims that people have certain rights that cannot be taken away. This is a backbone because it is one of the first things said in the Declaration of Independence and sets up the first set of rules for the government. Another example of an enlightenment idea in the Declaration of Independence is “That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men...:” This is another point made from John Locke, that the government is instituted to protect your natural rights.

These rights are Liberty, Property, Safety and Resistance to Oppression.” This is similar to John Locke’s idea that the government is put in place to protect your natural rights. This is another example of an enlightenment idea being a backbone for a nation which in this case was the French. Another Idea from the enlightenment in the document is “Men are born and remain free and equal in rights.” This, again is like John Locke’s natural rights