Why Is The Enlightenment Important To The American Revolution

The Enlightenment, a movement in which thinkers try to apply principles of reason to every aspect of life. Enlightenment philosophers shared ideas which had an impact on the American Democracy & French Revolution. John Locke, montesquieu, voltaire, etc all were a part of this development, they all believed in different things. Locke believed in the natural rights. Voltaire believed and fought for religious tolerance.

Enlightenment Influence on American Government and Revolution The Enlightenment era was around the 18th century. A time where many different philosophers imputed many of their own thoughts and beliefs on religion, human rights, the government and other important situations involving our country today. Many figures associated with the Enlightenment were, John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, Voltaire, Baron Montesquieu, and Beccaria, to name a few.

The Enlightenment had a huge impact on society. The world before the Enlightenment must have been horrible. Just imagining a world where there is no liberty and as a women be almost a slave and the government taking advantage. All four philosophers have their mind set on different problems that society is dealing with, whether it's religion, economy, nature law, or women’s freedom. The one thing they all have in common is freedom.

Above all, the Enlightenment played crucial role in educating people in the American societies. Although the Enlightenment initially started in Europe, it was prevalent out to America. The definition of Enlightenment means to “reimbursement or clearing up” and it is a very helpful term since it assists to give proper information about what the Enlightenment is and what they tried to fulfill that time. Furthermore, the Enlightenment had hugely impacted on the American Revolution. The most well known Enlightenment theorists in America were Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, I think.

During the 1800’s, the age of Enlightenment transforms the French Revolution. Which all men are granted their natural rights. As the church ignites the change of government. Also that every person has their own individual value.

After three centuries of colonial rule, Spanish and Portuguese America got independence. Between 1808 and 1826 all of Latin America except the Spanish colonies of Cuba and Puerto Rico remained under Spanish rule. This was the result of a combination of long-building tensions in colonial rule and a series of external events. The reforms imposed by the Spanish in the 18th century provoked great instability in the relations between the rulers and their colonial subjects in the Americas. Many Creoles felt Bourbon policy to be an unfair attack on their wealth, political power, and social status.

The enlightenment definitely played a pivotal role in the revolution, the ideas and works of well known enlightenment identities like Voltaire, rosseau, locke, and monstesque were highly influential during the era of the French revolution. Ideas that were developed during the period of the enlightenment led the lower class to become upset by the way they were being treated under the government. Correspondent to the ideas of enlightenment john locke philosophy, the boruqoosi essentially wanted life, liberty and property. The liberal ideas continued to influence the events of the revolution. The bourgeiosi created the national assembly which published the declaration of the rights of man and citizen.

Historically, no time of great knowledge has ever resulted in a world unchanged from how it existed previously. I believe that this rings true in the Enlightenment and the effect it had on the world in sparking the American and French Revolutions. The influx of new ideas and a general unhappiness with the way governments, power, and social classes had existed were bound to lead to an eventual revolt within the populations of eighteenth century France and the new American colonies. The Enlightenment, a period of innovative western thought and culture, would ignite the fire that burned within those yearning for a revolution in the obsolete, medieval views of the world.

The American Revolution was between the Americans and England’s King, and the French Revolution was between the French’s king ad the third estate. The Declaration of Independence was created, because the Americans thought that all men should have the same rights and the King of England has done the opposite of what they wanted. The Declaration of the Rights of Man was created, because the French third estate wasn’t being treated like the 1st and 2nd estate and they wanted have rights that was justified. These Revolutions started from Enlightenment ideas. Enlightenment ideas were ideas that would help with individualism.

The Enlightenment movement was vital for the success of the colonies. The colonists started to look to science to explain issues, they turned away from their religion, and they embarked on the journey of gaining knowledge that was crucial for their survival in America. Since the very start of time, there were countless misconceptions in the world. Many religious groups believed that there were “higher powers” that controlled what happened on earth and they looked to everything except science to answer the innumerable questions they had. However, in the 18th century many leaders came to power and started to reveal new thoughts and information to people and it started a movement called the Enlightenment.