Enlightenment Dbq Essay

During the Enlightenment many new ideas inspired the government and the people to come together to better society. People such as John Locke, Beccaria and many others had different ideas of how to reform the government during the Enlightenment period, which lasted from 1685-1815. The ideas created by the philosophers of this time included new beliefs and new laws. This ultimately leads to new relations forming between the government and the people. The propositions proposed by the Enlightenment altered the association between government and society by uniting the ideas of the government and the people, promoting the tolerance of all religions, and giving justice to the people.

Social contracts were proposed with the intentions of creating

He thought that the natural rights of men should be protected by the government. “To protect natural rights governments are established. . . .Since men hope to preserve their property by establishing government, they will not want that government to destroy their objectives. When legislators try to destroy or take away the property of the people...people who can then refuse to obey the laws” (Document 2). Locke wanted to establish an agreement between the government and the people that stated the government would protect the natural rights and if they tried to take them away, the people had the right to overthrow the government. This created a bond between the government and the people by having the government protect the people, but in order for the government not to have absolute power, the people could refuse their laws. Other philosophers also believed in social contracts, however they had different motives behind them. Jean Jacques Rousseau, a Swiss philosopher who was committed to individual freedom, also supported the idea of a social contract. He believed that though men were free, they should be willing to give up some freedoms to better society. “The individual member alienates himself totally to the whole community together with all his

Voltaire was a French writer during the Enlightenment period, who published over 70 essay’s having to do with philosophy and drama. He was one of the first people to believe that despite someone’s religion everyone should be accepted in society. “I say we should regard all men as our brothers...are we not all children of the same father and creature of the same God?” (Document 5). Voltaire expressed his understanding for the Christians not wanting to accept his beliefs. At the time people of different religions did not get along well. Voltaire was hoping to change the minds of the people and government to creating unity throughout society. Voltaire also went on to say that people should have freedom of what they preach and that the natural rights of men should be respected. In monarchies, the ruler would take away all the rights people had. Voltaire was attempting to restore the natural rights of men and abandon absolute monarchies. “These rights are, entire liberty of a person and property; freedom of press; the right of being tried in all criminal cases by a jury of independent men - the right of being tried only according to the strict letter of the law; and the right of every man to profess, unmolested, what religion he chooses” (Document 6). During the Enlightenment the ideas of natural rights were being reintroduced,