Enlightment

The Enlightenment was a period of time in the 1700's that people began to use reason and common sense. People began to question and no longer agreed with traditional ideas. It was a new way for people to view authority, government and law rationally. The Enlightenment had a big effect on political issues. It was a time when colonists began to question the authority of the British monarchy.

John Locke was one of the most important influences during the Enlightenment. He believed that all people are born with natural rights. These rights are life, liberty, and property. He said that the job of government is to protect these rights. If a government does not protect these rights, the people should have a right to abolish it.

Baron de Montesquieu was another Enlightenment influence. He believed there should be a separation of powers. The government should be separated into three branches. The branches were the legislative branch (makes the laws), the executive branch (carries out the laws), and the judicial branch (interprets the laws). He said there should also be checks and balances, this will keep one branch from having too much power.

During the 1700's Voltaire was another Enlightened thinker. He strongly believed in free speech. He also believed in religious freedom, natural rights, and an end to torture.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau did not believe in the idea of the divine right of kings. He didn't believe in it because the people have power to the government, not God. He also believed in the social contract, which meant that government's power came from the people.

These Enlightenment philosophers had a great influence on the Declaration of Independence. All of their ideas were put into the Declaration of Independence. It included ideas such as John Locke's idea about natural rights and also his ideas about government protecting the people. The Declaration of Independence also states all men are created equal which were Voltaire's ideas.

The Enlightenment influenced the government of the United States also. The Enlightenment still has an effect on today. American Government today still has the three branches of government which came as an idea from Baron de Montesquieu. Jean-Jacques Rousseau did not believe in divine right of kings. He said that government is formed by people not God. Today in the United States Government is not ruled by kings or queens, it is selected by