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The Enlightenment Philosophy is also known as the age of Reasoning or Ideas of the enlightenment. This philosophy saw a rise from the 17th-18th century international movement that resulted in the French and American Revolution. Enlightenment philosophers exercised critical reasoning that was independent of religious thoughts. The philosophy stressed natural rights, freedom, equality, religious tolerance, and cultural freedom.
This philosophy also argued that humanity could be improved through rational change and positive reforms. Historians believe that the American and French revolutions were inspired by the Ideas of the enlightenment philosophy. In this essay, we will present arguments on how did the enlightenment influence the American revolution.
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The Enlightenment Movement Influence on The American Revolution 700 Word Long Essay
Enlightenment movement also known as the age of reasoning was a cultural, social, and intellectual movement that revolutionized the western world from the 17th-18th century. Enlightenment scholars chose reason over superstition and science over faith. Many prominent enlightenment philosophers used the power of the press to question the existing knowledge and argued with reasoning and science.
The enlightenment mainly argued that Humans are born free and should not be in chains. It emphasized freedom, equality, reasoning, natural rights, and the right to throw the government based on the social contract. Historians believe that these ideas were the main influence for the thirteen American colonies to come together and fight for freedom against the Crown. In this essay, we will discuss how did the enlightenment influence the American Revolution.
The Enlightenment Philosophy Had Three Main Points
Rationalism
This idea argued that humans themselves are capable of using reason to gain knowledge. It was also believed that all the existing knowledge should be reverified through reasoning and science and no one should blindly follow a faith or any other source of knowledge until it is verified by reasoning or science.
Empiricism
This point promoted the idea that knowledge is gained through observation and experience. This gave an idea that no one should be able to inherit power through monarchy and only people with experience and knowledge are fit to rule.
Progressivism
This enlightenment thought emphasized that through observation and reasoning humans can make unlimited linear progress. This showed that enlightenment thinkers believed that Humans are capable of achieving everything with continued effort and perseverance.
Influence of Enlightenment on American Revolution
The enlightenment thinkers advocated that a society should be based upon observation, science, and reasoning rather than blind faith. They advocated for a natural law set by the people, this natural law emphasized that humans are born free and should be allowed to live a life free from any rule of law that takes away their freedom. These leaders of enlightenment gave the idea that the Americans did not enjoy the freedom of speech, equality, freedom of the press, and also faced religious intolerance that was against the natural law. This realization of their rights based on enlightenment made the Americans revolt against the British rulers.
Thomas Jefferson an American influencer wrote that life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness are three natural human rights of the people. These three ideas made a point that the pursuit of happiness is also one of the natural rights of everyone. This made the Americans realize that even the aspirations that involved acquiring more property or owning property are one of their natural human rights and Britishers are denying these basic rights. This realization made the colonists fight for their freedom to win their natural rights.
Jean – Jacques Rousseau was also one of the most influential enlightenment thinkers of the 17th century. In 1762 Rousseau published his book “The Social Contract” which was full of abstract political philosophy. The book talked about the social contract between the people and the rulers and how the rulers take away the natural rights of the people in return for protection and peace. One of the famous quotes in his book read “Man was born free but everywhere he is in chains“. This enlightenment greatly influenced the American revolution and people stood up to claim freedom against the British government.
John Locke was by far one of the most influential philosophers the world has ever seen. He devoted his life to the philosophy of life and political power. He is believed to be one of the founding fathers of American Revolutionaries. Locke argued that the power of government is derived from people who voluntarily contract to obey all the rules in exchange for protection and peace. “Individuals have a natural right to own any physical and no one should be allowed to take away this right from them. If any ruler takes away personal property without consent then the Social Contract is violated and people should resist and depose their rulers“.
This clearly states that armed resistance should be shown if the Britishers violated any natural rights of the people by violating the social contract.
In conclusion, the enlightenment ideas influenced American colonists to defend their natural rights in such a way that they were willing to show armed resistance to anyone who violated these rights. The right to own property and the right to social, economic, political, and religious freedom could only be achieved by throwing out the British government from North American colonies. This is exactly what happened which proved the enlightenment influence was a big reason behind the American revolution.
How did the Enlightenment Cause The American Revolution 300 Word Short Custom Essay
Enlightenment was a philosophical movement that saw its peak influence during the 17th-18th century. Historians believe that enlightenment ideals were the major causes behind the American Revolution and the French revolution. The Enlightenment ideas argued that observance and reasoning are the primary sources of reliable information. Enlightenment argued that people should reason rather than blindly follow superstitions, faith, or the ideas of their forefathers.
The enlightenment ideals in favor of freedom, equality, justice, and the right to the pursuit of happiness convinced the American colonists to take up arms against the British crown and fight for their rights.
Enlightenment Ideas That Brought the American Revolution
Enlightenment philosophers advocated ideas like natural rights, religious tolerance, the right to the press, the right to own property, liberty, freedom of speech, the right to pursue happiness, and the right to overthrow a government that violates the social contract. These ideas made the American colonists realize that the British government has deprived them of all these basic rights and they should take arms to claim these rights.
French and American philosophers shared their ideas about the vision of an ideal government that ensured people’s rights. Montesquieu believed that there should be a separation of power, John Locke stood up for the natural rights of people. Thomas Hobbes presented his vision of obeying one person with power and not a state. Rousseau presented his philosophy about the Social Contract between the government and the people and how a violation of this social contract should result in rebellion.
All these enlightenment ideas influenced the American colonists to work for an American revolution and to become their own nation. After the declaration of independence, the colonists formed an American government that made the enlightenment ideas a part of the united states constitution.
FAQs
What were the enlightenment beliefs of the American philosophers?
The American philosophers use the power of the press to share enlightenment ideas and demanded freedom, equality, justice, liberty, freedom of speech, the right to buy property, and the right to overthrow a government if it violated any rights.
Did the Enlightenment start the American Revolution?
Enlightenment laid the foundation for the American revolution. The intellectual ideas, philosophy, and reasoning convinced the American colonists to fight for freedom later on resulting in the declaration of independence.