How Did The Enlightenment Influence The American Government

The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement created by many philosophers of the 18th century aimed to change their governments. These philosophers wished for more rights for the people and more representation in a constitutional government instead of the monarchy. Philosophers like Voltaire called for tolerance, reason as the primary source of authority, freedom of religious belief, and freedom of speech and expression. In addition he promoted the separation of religious and state, in order to mark a distance between any organized religion and the nation state. The political philosopher Montesquieu introduced the idea of a separation of powers in a government.

Thomas Jefferson stressed that liberty and equality were natural human right and that every one deserves them (“Philosophy & Philosophers.” Philosophy & Philosophers, www.the-philosophy.com/). Montesquieu was also very influential he was guided by a respect for the human person and the dedication to political and liberty of modern political views to move forward (“Philosophy & Philosophers.” Philosophy & Philosophers, www.the-philosophy.com/). Today's government would be dramatically different if it was not for these and enlightenment.

Locke ideas came before the American Revolution and were the foundation for the U.S Constitution and partly reasons for the revolution. Though these men were not able to live through or the start of their notions, the people took a hold of them impacting government systems. Niccolo Machiavelli was an

Thomas Jefferson’s works and ideas laid the foundation for several key aspects on the limits of the United States government, the idea of separation of church and state, and the importance of personal rights. Jefferson wrote many influential pieces of literature which pushed the concept of having limited government power. Jefferson wanted America not to be like the European monarchies that fell due to religious strife, so he emphasized a secular government. Jefferson, following closely with the ideas of John Locke, stressed the importance of the protection of individual rights against the government. Thomas Jefferson believed that a government should have limitations.

John Locke was a philosopher and political scientist. He had many interests and produced a number of writings that influenced future leaders. One of these leaders was Thomas Jefferson, who was involved with the aid of America and the act gaining independence from Britain. The Declaration of Independence and Locke’s views on government contain many similar aspects. These ideas includes the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (natural rights); the protection that is provided by the government for these rights; and the altering or abolishment of government if it fails to provide and protect the rights of the people.

This document had many ideas from enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke and Thomas Hobbes. Both John Locke and Thomas Hobbes had a great influence on the foundation on the Bill of Rights. How did the ideas of enlightenment leaders have an impact on how the Bill of Rights was created? The Bill of Rights is a document that was created to protect an individual 's natural rights from government.

The United States also used this idea when forming their government because they made the government a democratic republic where people can vote on the laws. The founding fathers agreed with Rousseau that the only people fit to choose laws are the people who have to follow the laws. The United States was not the only country to incorporate Enlightenment ideas into government, but it has the most obvious

His ideas influenced the constitution with the separation of powers. The Enlightenment philosophers influenced America’s government. John Locke’s ideas were echoed in the Declaration of Independence. Montesquieu Separation of powers was enforced in the U.S. constitution.

During the Enlightenment new ideas were created that greatly impacted society. The new ideas created during the Enlightenment impacted society so much that many of the ideas were utilized when forming the government of the United States. Three European men Montesquieu, Voltaire, and Rousseau each had their own unique views of what would be best for society. Each philosopher had ideas that would make today 's society more ideal and with hard work are possible to achieve.

As a result of their revolution, the Americans got their independence from Britain and introduced enlightenment ideas into their government. The American government after the revolution was much different than the government before the revolution. Before the revolution the American people were not represented in government and had no say. After the revolution the American people became the government. People elected other people that they trusted to go represent them in government.

During this time period, the influence of Enlightenment had overpower some of the most important values of the church and absolute monarch. Thomas’s Paine’s Common Sense document illustrates many keys that Enlightenment thinkers were influenced by. In the document, one of the idea that he wrote about was the government system and how everything was structured in an unfair approach. The key example of how Enlightenment thinking influenced the unfairness of the government is the freedom and the rights of individuals by God’s desires. Like it was mentioned in the text, “Society in every state is a blessing, but Government …is but a necessary evil” (Paine, pg 69).

The Enlightenment thinkers also influenced us with their intelligence and discoveries. It is also believed that the failures of the Articles of Confederation influenced the United States Constitution because the founding fathers did not want for their government to fail, like it did with the articles. Without the influences of the United States Constitution, the United States government today would not be the same. For example without the United States Constitution, marriage rights could be denied to same sex couple, we would have our democratic right to vote for a president every 4 years, and etc. None of these things would have existed if it were not for the influences of the United States Constitution.

Montesquieu stated that the best way to secure liberty and prevent a corrupted government was to divide the powers of government among separate groups that could check and manage one another. Madison and the other Founding Fathers listened to Montesquieu and established an executive, legislative, and judiciary branch in the federal Constitution as well as a system of checks and balances. In conclusion, Enlightenment thinkers greatly influenced the Founding Fathers in the creation of the Declaration of Independence. These Enlightenment thinkers included John Locke, Joan-Jacques Rousseau, Charles Montesquieu, and many more. Their ideas of natural rights, checks and balances, consent, and division of power are not only found in the Declaration of Independence but are still used and are relevant

This sharing of power added ideas from the newly formed government that focused on the freedoms of citizens in England. Voltaire contended that the English government had successfully limited the power of the monarchy by affirming the power of the nobility, criticizing the French feudal system for its inability to share political power amongst the citizens of France (6). Advocating a limited monarchy to hold political discussions concerning the progress of the French government towards liberal reforms during the French Revolution. Voltaire as an enlightened philosophe, published papers about the rationality of the French government, which influenced his attitude towards the English constitutional monarchy that implemented the enlightened ideal of liberty. John Locke wrote that the purpose of electing legislative powers was to create laws and rules that protected the “properties of all the members of society,” a natural right of mankind (5).

Many of his thoughts and principles were studied and adopted by the founders of the United States and are evident in documents, just like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Locke emphasized the freedom of humans, the equality of all before God, regulation and authorities through consent of the governed, and he justified the overthrow of presidency when it fails the people. Jean-Jacques Rousseau was another prominent thinker from the Enlightenment era. Rousseau differed with Locke about the position of the individual in relation to the country, with Rousseau emphasizing the importance of the ruled being worried in