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Reagan Rupert

Mr. Warwick

World History

November 30, 2018

Influence of the Enlightenment thinkers on the American Revolution

The Enlightenment had an impact on many different American documents that affect our society

today. The Enlightenment was a new movement that stressed reason, thought and problem-solving.

Humans could now solve social problems and they were more secular in society. The American

Revolution helped make more rights, laws and independence for people. The American Revolution was a

war fought from 1775-1783 and won by the 13 colonies to achieve independence from England. This

helped us gain independence for our country and be able to do be free from England. The Enlightenment

influenced the American Revolution because it was the main source on many of the ideas for it. The

Enlightenment encouraged people to start the American Revolution and focus on freedom of speech,

equality, freedom of press, and religious tolerance. Locke, Voltaire and Montesquieu influenced the bill

of rights, Declaration of Independence and the US constitution because of their strong ideas of natural

rights, consent of government, and separation of powers to the society during the American Revolution.

John Locke has an influence on America’s founding documents, because he made the idea of

natural rights and that still apply to people today. His words played a big part in the Declaration of

Independence. People have their own rights and independence freedom and ability to be themselves and

their own person. John Locke made natural rights and parts of what he said have gone onto the

Declaration of Independence. Natural rights plays a big part into the Declaration of Independence and it

used his words for the document. The right to own weapons and feel protected. The Bill is Rights says

people are allowed to own weapons and keep them because it is a free country. This is apart of John

Locke’s natural rights, it is a natural right to keep weapons and to be able to protect yourself. You should

be able to feel safe and be able to feel like you can protect yourself, this is a natural right. The separation

from England to become our own nation. We are separating from Great Britain and going to become our
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own country (The Declaration of Independence). Locke showed people that you are strong enough and

able to do what you want, you are fully able to separate yourselves from England, they don’t just get to

rule over you because they want to.

Voltaire had a huge impact on the bill of rights and gave rights to people dealing with the

government. You have the freedom of speech, you can say whatever you want, and no one can take that

from you, even if your in court. This is apart of voltaire's ideas because he showed people that your

allowed to say anything and that its a right to them. He focused on consent of the governed and made sure

people could be able to speak their minds. You are able to worship your own religion and exercise it

without the governments say, you are open to have your own religion. Voltaire didn't want the

government to have a say in everything the people believed in or worshiped. He wanted them to be free to

their religion and worship it as they wished. They did not have to worship the religion the government

told them to. Voltaire also influenced the idea that the congress should not collect taxes in order to pay for

debt. This is unfair to the people. They did not put the government in debt so why should they pay for it.

Voltaire wants the consent for the congress to collect taxes for that.

Montesquieu wanted separation of power in the government so it was fair to everyone. The US

constitution is a good example of how montesquieu did not want there to be only one ruler but the power

was split up. All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a congress of the United States, this

document is saying that there should be a legislative power that is apart of the government in the United

States. Since Montesquieu wanted the separation of powers the different branches of government are

influenced by him. Montesquieu wanted the different and separate branches of government. He thinks it’s

easier to rule and split up power that way. The powers also have equal separation of the say. The

president/vice president can't have a vote unless they are equally divided. Montesquieu again liked

separation of powers amongst the government so they could not vote unless they were divided. They

weren't just allowed to vote so they had to make it fair. The US constitution says ministers, councles,

judges and the supreme court must all split up the power of the government. Montesquieu influenced this

because this is equal separation for each part of the government, montesquieu stressed that there be equal
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separation amongst the powers. This separates the power and makes ruling of government amongst

people easier.

Locke, Voltaire and Montesquieu had an impact on the bill of rights, declaration of independence

and the US constitution because their ideas were spread and inspired people, with the natural rights,

consent of government, and the separation of powers all working together to make the American

documents better. Locke, Voltaire and Montesquieu all came up with these ideas and theories now used in

the American documents for the people. They all made a positive impact on the laws and rules that are

still used today. This helps people have more self rights, be independent and have freedom.

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