The Enlightenment was a time for philosophical change, which brought a whole new era of thinking to not just Europe, but also the New World. This new era of philosophy influenced the colonists to break off from Great Britain to create a new nation founded upon the ideas of Enlightenment thinkers. Some of the main causes of the American Revolution were the Enlightenment ideas that spread from Europe to the New World and changed the way the colonists looked at government. Two of the most important philosophers of the Enlightenment regarding the American Revolution and the government of the United States were John Locke and Baron de Montesquieu. John Locke believed that people were born with natural rights and that the government should be
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Many of the properties and attributes found in the government of the United States originate from the ideas of John Locke. Locke believed in the philosophy that all people are born with the natural rights of life, liberty, and property. These ideas of his were written in his book The Two Treaties on Government, where he explained the fairness of law. These ideas of his were put into the United States Constitution by the founding fathers, who were influenced by Locke’s philosophies. Human Legacy says that, “Members of the committee were well-educated leaders, such as John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Ben Franklin who were familiar with Enlightenment concepts. Jefferson wrote a draft of the Declaration, incorporating ideas from Locke and Rousseau” (Ramirez, Stearns, & Wineburg, 184). As well as his idea of natural rights, Locke’s belief in having government separated from religion was also put into place within the Constitution. In Human Legacy, the author states, “The Bill of Rights protected the natural rights advocated by Voltaire, Locke, and Rousseau, such as the freedoms of speech and religion.” (Ramirez, Stearns, & Wineburg, 187). Not only were John Locke’s ideas influential in the Constitution, but also in the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence. John Locke’s ideas were immensely influential …show more content…
The Enlightenment brought a modern age of thinking that created a new nation founded upon philosophies of Enlightenment intellectuals. The American Revolution was sparked in part by the idea of natural rights and a new government to protect such rights. John Locke was one of the most influential Enlightenment philosophers that influenced the founding fathers to use many of his ideas in the documents that our country was founded on. Baron de Montesquieu was yet another great and influential Enlightenment thinker who brought the idea of equal powers in government with the use of three equal branches of government. The ideas brought up with the Enlightenment were the main cause of both the French and American Revolutions, and brought improved governments to rule those countries
Many of the properties and attributes found in the government of the United States originate from the ideas of John Locke. Locke believed in the philosophy that all people are born with the natural rights of life, liberty, and property. These ideas of his were written in his book The Two Treaties on Government, where he explained the fairness of law. These ideas of his were put into the United States Constitution by the founding fathers, who were influenced by Locke’s philosophies. Human Legacy says that, “Members of the committee were well-educated leaders, such as John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Ben Franklin who were familiar with Enlightenment concepts. Jefferson wrote a draft of the Declaration, incorporating ideas from Locke and Rousseau” (Ramirez, Stearns, & Wineburg, 184). As well as his idea of natural rights, Locke’s belief in having government separated from religion was also put into place within the Constitution. In Human Legacy, the author states, “The Bill of Rights protected the natural rights advocated by Voltaire, Locke, and Rousseau, such as the freedoms of speech and religion.” (Ramirez, Stearns, & Wineburg, 187). Not only were John Locke’s ideas influential in the Constitution, but also in the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence. John Locke’s ideas were immensely influential …show more content…
The Enlightenment brought a modern age of thinking that created a new nation founded upon philosophies of Enlightenment intellectuals. The American Revolution was sparked in part by the idea of natural rights and a new government to protect such rights. John Locke was one of the most influential Enlightenment philosophers that influenced the founding fathers to use many of his ideas in the documents that our country was founded on. Baron de Montesquieu was yet another great and influential Enlightenment thinker who brought the idea of equal powers in government with the use of three equal branches of government. The ideas brought up with the Enlightenment were the main cause of both the French and American Revolutions, and brought improved governments to rule those countries