Thomas Jefferson's Impact On Government During The Age Of Enlightenment

The Age of Enlightenment or Age of reason was a developmental philosopher movement in the 17th –century. The movement highlighted reason and individualism rather than tradition. Its purpose was to challenge the traditional rituals and open minds to a new way of thinking and rationalizing. Contrary to what some people may think these ideas, theories and new way of thinking are still relevant in today’s society. These men had a profound impact on government and their ideas helped shape the government into what it is today. The American Declaration of Independence has remarkable resemblance to John Lockes’ “Second Treatise of Government”. Montesquieu and Adam Smiths’ works can also be found in historical American documents that are still in effect

The “Laws of Nature” was an idea John Locke wrote in his “Second Treatise of Government”. The “Laws of Nature” were believed to be a default legal code that people were born with, and they believed no one should have the power to strip you of those rights. Jefferson clearly encapsulated Locke’s concepts for the natural laws in the Declaration. The difference between the two is only that Thomas Jefferson spoke of the transition from law of nature to law of civil society in layman’s

He wrote “The Spirit of the Laws” in 1748, and it encompassed things pertaining to law, social law and the study of anthropology. He argued that depending on the circumstances the type of government in play would vary. To us these ideas and theories don’t seem to extreme or radical, but back in the 18th century these themes implied that the government subsequently was not perpetual. As Locke he argued that government was not formed on the authority of their families’ fathers. Instead, the best government was the one that best suited the people in question. “The Spirit of the Laws” was written to analyze the different types of political institutions, and to arraign the French Monarchial system for their abuses. Therefore helping France, move towards a liberal and more proportionate monarchial government. Montesquieu suggested that there were three types of government: Republics, Monarchies, and Despotisms. A republic is described as, governed by many- either an elite aristocracy or the people as a whole, which allowed individual community members to exceed their particular interests and rule for the common good. In a monarchy, there is a single ruler that rules in correspondence with the law. The third form, despotism, is when there is one absolute ruler unchecked by law or other powers. He felt admiration for the British system and its