How did ideas from the Enlightenment become part of revolutionary ideology?

Question

Zoe Atkinson · Accepted Answer

They were popular among the elite from which the Founding Fathers were from.

The Engliightment dominated the intellectual life in the eighteenth century and it was popular among the elite, the Founding Fathers were not commoners and were thus influenced by it. The Enlighment that influenced the Founders was the ideas of John Locke, one of the main thinkers of the Glorious Revolution in England.

HIX Tutor · Answer

undefined The Enlightenment was a period in history when people started thinking about new ideas for society and government. These ideas later became part of the revolutionary ideology. Here are the steps to understand how this happened:

1. During the Enlightenment, many philosophers like John Locke and Voltaire wrote about the importance of individual rights and freedoms. They believed that people should have the power to govern themselves.

2. These ideas spread through books, pamphlets, and newspapers. People started discussing them and questioning the old ways of governing.

3. The American Revolution, which happened in the late 18th century, was greatly influenced by the Enlightenment. The American colonists rebelled against British rule and used Enlightenment ideas to argue for independence.

4. The French Revolution, which followed shortly after, was also inspired by Enlightenment thinking. The French people wanted to end the monarchy and create a more equal society based on the ideas of liberty, equality, and fraternity.

5. The Enlightenment ideas of individual rights, the rule of law, and the consent of the governed became central to the revolutionary ideologies of both the American and French revolutions.

6. These revolutionary ideas further spread to other parts of the world, inspiring people to fight for their own independence and democratic principles.

In summary, the Enlightenment ideas of individual rights and freedoms became part of revolutionary ideology as people started to question the established ways of governing and seek more democratic and equal societies. This happened through the spread of philosophical writings, the examples of the American and French revolutions, and the influence they had on other movements for independence and change.