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Question

Organize information and list the important enlightenment thinkers explain which enlightenment thinker contributed most to the Democratic revolutions in America and France

I. Enlightenment thinkers and ideas

A

B

II the beginnings of democracy in America

A

B

III the French Revolution

Answer 1

The englightenment thinkers were a group of philosphers who wanted to improve society when it came to economics and politics. Their ideas contributed to revolutions all over the Atlantic world (from America to Haiti to France) where people would be inspired by these ideas to overthrow the current government and establish a new one. Enlightenment thinkers that had the most influence on the Atlantic Revolutions would be John Locke and Baron de Montesquieu. John Locke believed that a government had to protect our unalienable rights (the rights everyone is born with such as freedom, property, ...) and if that government failed to do so, the people had the right to overthrow it and establish a new one. And this is exactly what revolutions did. They overthrew a government that - in their eyes - disrespected those unalienable rights - this could be a national government or a colonial government - and they established a new one. Baron de Montesquieu believed in separation of powers. He believed that is was dangerous to have all power in the hands of just one individual and he believed it was better to separate that power over multiple individuals who were able to check each other if they took that power too far. This will enspire the separation of branches in the US constitution where we have a Legislative, Judicial, and executive branch that can all check each other and balance each other's powers through a system called "checks and balances".

To put it in your table:

I. Enlightenment Thinkers and Ideas

A. John Locke

1. Natural rights: life, liberty, and property
2. Government's job is to protect these rights
3. People have the right to overthrow a government that fails them
4. Major influence on the Declaration of Independence

B. Montesquieu

1. Separation of powers into legislative, executive, and judicial branches
2. Checks and balances prevent tyranny
3. Inspired the U.S. Constitution and modern democratic governments

II. The Beginnings of Democracy in America

A. Influence of Enlightenment Thought

John Locke's ideas on natural rights and government by consent influenced Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence (1776). Montesquieu’s separation of powers became the foundation of the U.S. Constitution (1787).

B. Establishment of a Republic

The U.S. rejected monarchy in favor of a representative democracy.

Enlightenment principles were embedded in key documents:

Declaration of Independence (natural rights)

Constitution (checks and balances)

Bill of Rights (civil liberties)

III. The French Revolution

A. Influence of Enlightenment Ideals

French philosophes like Rousseau and Voltaire inspired calls for liberty, equality, and fraternity.

The idea of the social contract justified rebellion against King Louis XVI.

Enlightenment ideas influenced the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (1789).

B. Overthrow of Monarchy

The Revolution began in 1789, inspired in part by the American Revolution and Enlightenment principles.

It led to the abolition of absolute monarchy and the rise of democratic ideals—though these were later challenged during the Reign of Terror and Napoleon’s rule.

Most Influential Enlightenment Thinker: John Locke

Locke's ideas of unalienable rights and the right to overthrow governments had a direct impact on the American Revolution and inspired the American Declaration of Independence. His work also had a large unfluence on French revolutionaries who used his ideas in their Declaration of the Rights of Man. Locke’s ideas laid the groundwork for modern liberal democracy and they had the most lasting impact on both revolutions.