The Enlightenment principles of religious freedom, citizen's power, and an organized government prove that the Enlightenment played a major role in impacting the American Revolution, similar to how the slaves of the Haitian Revolution had desires, so they
By BlueJedi33
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Thesis continued
fought back against the people who controlled them. -
John Locke
"As reasonable beings, they had the natural ability to govern their
own affairs and to look after the welfare of society" (Black and Beck 551).
John Locke believed the opposite of Thomas Hobbes. He believed that humans were responsible enough to be able to govern and take care of themselves, without always needing someone to tell them what to do. This is helpful for the people because it gives them more power. -
Voltaire (François-Marie Arouet)
"Voltaire never stopped fighting for tolerance, reason, freedom of religious belief, and freedom of speech" (Black and Beck 553).
Voltaire believed in all kinds of freedom for the people. Mainly, he believed that they should be able to choose whatever religion that they want. He also believed people should be able to express their opinions whenever they want. This helps the common people by giving them more freedom. -
Montesquieu
"Montesquieu believed that Britain was the best-governed country of his own day. Here was a government, he thought, in which power was balanced among three groups of officials" (Black and Beck 553). Montesquieu believed that the government should be separated into three different groups, each with an equal amount of power. This benefited the people because then there is a much smaller chance that the government will take power away from the people. -
Jean Jaques Rousseau
"Rousseau believed that the only good government was one that was freely formed by the people and guided by the “general will” of society" (Black and Beck 554).
Rousseau was a firm believer that all of the power should be with the people. He thinks that whatever the society decides as a whole would be what is best for everyone. Obviously, this helped all people by giving them more power. -
No Power
"caused by British attempts to assert greater control over colonial affairs after having long adhered to a policy of salutary neglect" (Britannica). The colonists were getting fed up with the British because they were not given any power. They could not vote, and they were being taxed in an extremely unfair way. This ties directly to what John Locke believed. He believed that people are smart enough to be able to take care of themselves, without the need of a government. -
Religion and the American Revolution
"Religious practice suffered in certain places because of the absence of ministers and the destruction of churches" (Galloway, et al). There was not a lot of religious freedom before the American Revolution. The people did not have specific places to worship. This is because there were no ministers, and most of the churches ended up being destroyed by the British. This is related to what Voltaire believed because he believed that all humans should be able to have whatever religion they want. -
Freedom
"The success of the Revolution had furnished Americans with the opportunity to give legal form and expression to their political ideals" (American History). Before the revolution, the colonists did not have freedom and could not do whatever they wanted. After rebelling, they could do what they wanted and act how they wanted without having to worry about someone stopping them. This relates to Rousseau because Rousseau believed people should be free to do what they want. -
Division of Government
"free inhabitants have been seen deliberating on a form of government" (American History). After successfully overthrowing the British, the Americans were free to live how they wanted. The agreed on having a government with three branches, each with the same amount of power. This is related to what Montesquieu believed. He wanted for the government to have split power so that it was more unlikely for the people to lose their power. -
Works Cited
Galloway, et al. “Religion and the Founding of the American Republic Religion and the American Revolution.” Religion and the American Revolution - Religion and the Founding of the American Republic | Exhibitions (Library of Congress), 4 June 1998, www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/rel03.html. Wallace, Willard M. “American Revolution.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 4 Feb. 2020, www.britannica.com/event/American-Revolution. -
Works Cited 2
Beck, Roger B. World History: Patterns of Interaction. McDougal Littell, 2005. “The Formation of a National Government.” The Formation of a National Government < History 1954 < American History From Revolution To Reconstruction and Beyond, www.let.rug.nl/usa/outlines/history-1954/the-formation-of-a-national-government.php.
