DBQ: The Enlightenment Essay

The sense known by legion(predicate) as the Age of Reason was a turning point in history. Man commonwealth believe that without the enlightenment, piece of musicy of the laws, and rules would exist. For example the United States Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were owing(p)ly influenced by the judgment. For example, John Locke, an judiciousness thinker highly influenced the Declaration of Independence by stating that the natural rights of citizenry include life, conversance and holding except the mental home fathers changed it by stating life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.The Ameri layabout Revolution itself has been called the embodiment of Enlightenment psyches. If the origin fathers were not influenced by some of these ideas, maybe the United Sates would not be a democracy it could drive been an absolute monarchy, aristocracy, etc. some of our gentle rights would not exist if it were for the Enlightenment. Philosophers such as Montesqui eu, Rousseau, Locke, and others lead to m both great changes. These ideas were employ by some to challenge absolute monarchies.An absolute monarchy is a presidency ruled by one and only(a) ruler. These ideas also wedged two establishment and indian lodge. Some of the ideas of the Enlightenment were used to challenge absolute monarchy. adept example is stipulation in Document 1, Montesquieu who was a French philosopher during the Enlightenment, states, there can be no liberty with the executive, legislative, and judicial powers are fall in in one person or body it a persons, because such concentration is bound to result in arbitrary despotism.In this com valetd, Montesquieu is stating that liberty cannot exist where three powers of judicature are held by one person or body of persons. This is because then the people would not swallow rights for themselves. The idea was used to challenge an absolute monarchy the people thought that it was unfair that one person was ru ling the state where as they precious that people own a say in the government and everyone should have equal rights. other idea used to challenge an absolute monarchy was in Document 2.Voltaire, who was a French author and philosopher, states I may disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it The best government seems to be that in which all ranks of men are equally treasure by the laws This statement challenged absolute monarchies because Voltaire believed that ejectdom of speech should be a right for to each one person. He believed that people should be able to exhibit their thoughts and feelings. Freedom of speech is a very important right today, and it is used every day by people who express their thoughts. likewise in Document 3 Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who was a French philosopher states Man is born unacquainted(p) and everywhere he is in chains. Rousseau is saying that despite the fact that man is born free, he is still tortures, st ill abused and has all of those free liberties interpreted away from him. For example, even though people in France prior(prenominal) to the revolution were all human, only the third estate had to pay taxes. The Enlightenment also had a expectant meeting on both government and society.For example in Document 5 English philosopher Locke states Man being by nature all free, equal, and independent no one can be subjected to the political power of another without his own consent To protect natural rights governments are established Since man hope to preserve their property by establishing a government, they will not want the government to set down the objectives. When legislators try to destroy or take away the property of people, or try to reduce them to slavery, they put themselves in to a state of war with the people who can refuse to obey the laws.This idea had a large impact on both government and society because told society that if they wanted to keep their property, they would have to establish a government that protects natural rights. This impacted the society because many people wanted natural rights and this statement influenced the society to establish a new type of government. It impacted the government because this statement told the government that if the people wanted to keep their property and other rights they would have to establish a new government meaning that the current government would have to change, so the government would be concerned.Another example of an impact on both government and society is shown in Document 6, an invite out from the Declaration of Independence. It states, We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable reclaims, that among these are Life, indecency and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted amongMen, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That wheneve r any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to proceeding their Safety and Happiness. This excerpt impacts government because it states that certain rights is unalienable, meaning that they cannot be taken away from you these include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.The impact of the Enlightenment had an effect on government because before the Enlightenment governments of Europe were primarily Divine Right Monarchies, meaning a King ruled, who was selected by God. Prior to the Enlightenment people believed that if you disobeyed the King, you disobeyed God. There was no difference between the State and the Church because each State had its own religion. No one had rights there were no checks and balances or separation of powers because only one person wa s in control. The upper classes had the rights causing the lower classes to be angry.The impact the Enlightenment had on society was that it gave people curiosity to why they dont have natural rights. The ideas of the Enlightenment led to the society of France to rebel and that led to the French Revolution, therefore the ideas of the Enlightenment led people to realize that they are not being given rights that they are entitled to. As you can see the Enlightenment I considered a turning point in world history, changing mans view of government and society. Examples of these ideas are shown in documents 1-6.Many of the ideas created by the philosophers during the Enlightenment led to many revolutions and greatly influenced many countries including the United States of America. Also these ideas led people to question and rebel for rights that they are entitled to. Some of these include freedom of speech, and equality. If the ideas of the Enlightenment were not important, many countries including the United States could have been an absolute monarchy, aristocracy, or another type of government where all citizens are not equal.