Negative Effects Of The Enlightenment

The Enlightenment was a movement in Europe during the 17th and 18th century where people gather to discuss and develop new ideas about human existence. The Enlightenment gave government power and people their rights. It focused more on reasoning and science rather than religion. It was a period of time where everyone wasn’t so equal and that things were based on science and reason. The Enlightenment was most likely caused by the Dark Ages which on religion instead of education. The Enlightenment emphasized reason and individualism rather than tradition. Today, America is not living up to the ideals of the Enlightenment because strict voter ID laws are making it harder for poor people to vote, the removal of the transgender bathroom law is having

During Jean Jacques Rousseau lifetime, “ He believed that individuals should have certain rights” (WHfUA 11) Certain rights such as the Right to Life, Liberty and the Security of Person also applies to transgender people and it give them the right to choose whatever bathroom that fits their gender. In February of 2017, the Trump administration ended federal protection for transgender student so now “This person would not have the support of the federal government to be allowed to use bathroom of their choice” (TWB 24). Not being able to use the bathroom that fits their gender is basically removing their rights to life. Therefore America is not living up to the ideals of the

In 1690, John Locke wrote a document that supports the Consent of the Governed. It states that, “(W)hen the government is dissolved[ended], the people are at liberty to provide for themselves” (Locke 18). To simplify this, if the government fail to protect the people, they have the right to protest and protect themselves. In a protest against Donald Trump, police officers wanted to arrest protesters for unlawful acts but “The use of Kettling is unlawful if officers do not have probable use that protesters have committed unlawful acts” (Calagoal). Even though officers accused protesters for unlawful acts, they had to right to protest due to Consent of the Governed. In 2016 during the Dakota Access pipeline construction, protests was made to protect the clean water but “The protests led to occasional clashes with law enforcement and nearly 700 arrests” (TWB 34). The arrest were wrong and the people did have the rights to protest because they weren’t protected by the governments. These are the reasons why America is not living up to the ideals of the Enlightenment.

In the world today, America is not living up to the ideals of the Enlightenment. A few reasons why America is not living up to the Enlightenment is because of the strict voter ID laws restricting the poor to vote, transgender bathroom law preventing transgender to use the bathroom