Which Movement Had More Influence On America, The Enlightenment Or Romanticism?

Elizabeth A. Cogan
Professor Jonmarie
CH 203
17 October 2014
Enlightenment
Which movement had more influence on America, the Enlightenment or Romanticism? The birth of a new nation brings about monumental change in every facet of life. Politically, governmentally, socially—anything that has the ability to waver will be altered in one way or another. The progressive movement of life may either be detrimental or beneficial. When the birth of America was instated on, “July 4, 1776, it was by no means certain that their independence would last” (49). From here, to promote positive movement for the colonies, an idea set of Enlightenment was adopted. Enlightened thinking was an essential key in dictating every facet in colonial America’s future;

Self-incurred tutelage was being broken free of and social change was about. Another example of the heavy influence the Enlightenment had was towards the rights of women- it fuelled them to question their own status in society. During this time, any people (particularly women) were seen as radicals for speaking out about the rights of women. Judith Sargent Murray felt compelled to bring out the poor education women received. She advocated that the daily chores and duties that were placed upon women were not intellectually stimulating in any way to help advance them an individuals. She more or less described women who succumbed to this, as mere drones doing as they are instructed by society. But her goal in speaking up about this subject was to notify people on the inequalities of education between boys and girls. While boys are raised to be encouraged to pursue an education, girls are ignored this “privilege” and should stick to their “instinctual” and natural way of being. This form of thinking and the way in which she went about it all stemmed from the confidence that the Enlightenment brought to America. This heavy influence allowed people to take charge of the future of this new nation; it was new and easily persuaded because it did not have the centuries of rule to inhibit the wants and desires of the general

The Social Contract Theory stemmed from the time of the Enlightenment. This was a time of thinking outside of the forced social construct; for an individual to have their own thoughts and ideas about what was being instructed upon them. It was a time to contemplate the orders and laws given by strict verbatim. The Social Contract Theory can be defined as the authority of the government over that of the people and how the rights of an individual is threatened in return to some protection over other rights. This product even has prevalence in today’s society. People are so easily convinced and persuaded; most do not step out and question authority. Therefore, in end, the masses take what is forced upon them without any thought to how it may be affecting them. The Social Contract allowed the general will of the people to be heard and instilled upon the society. This form of public influence allows the public to have a say in what is being