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Enlightenment Era Dbq

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From the late 1500’s to the late 1700’s, the Enlightenment period occurred. Thinkers and philosophers across Europe created ideas that changed the way people thought. For example, John Locke thought of the idea that everyone had natural rights. These rights consisted of the right to life, liberty, and property. Voltaire had the idea that the power lies in the hands of the people and their elected government. Benjamin Franklin, who had a great influence on the new government in the Americas as he told the ideas of government structure that he thought was better. Without these three people and their thoughts, the world wouldn't be the way it is today. John Locke was an English political theorist who focused on the structure of government. He …show more content…

He thought that the power lies in the hands of the people and their elected government officials. He also believed that there should be an elected president in place of a monarch. These thoughts helped the people have more power and can control who they think is capable to be in charge of them. This also gave the people the option to change their leader if the people find him not good enough to rule. This could help the people to have a say on taxes and other laws they oppose. For example, if a monarch wanted to tax his people he could and no one could tell him not to. But if a president wanted to tax his people would vote for the president with the lowest taxes and better ideals in which they will decide to accept to by making him in charge. Benjamin Franklin was an American thinker that had a great connection with Europe and America. He exchanged ideas between Europe and the colonies and had extensive knowledge in government and how it affects the people and their happiness. Franklin had a profound influence on the formation of the new government. With his help he assisted in the formation of a new government in the colonies. Which also formed a basic foundation for the modern government that we see

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