Enlightenment's Impact Quick Check

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Question
Which of the following statements best explains how Enlightenment thinkers challenged political authority?(1 point)
Responses

Enlightenment thinkers believed the monarchy should have absolute power.
Enlightenment thinkers believed the monarchy should have absolute power.

Enlightenment thinkers sided with the monarchy in disputes with the church.
Enlightenment thinkers sided with the monarchy in disputes with the church.

Enlightenment thinkers debated ways for one person or group to have complete power.
Enlightenment thinkers debated ways for one person or group to have complete power.

Enlightenment thinkers often debated ways to limit the power of the authority or government.
Enlightenment thinkers often debated ways to limit the power of the authority or government.

Enlightenment thinkers often debated ways to limit the power of the authority or government.

Enlightenment thinkers often debated ways to limit the power of the authority or government.

The correct answer to the question is: Enlightenment thinkers often debated ways to limit the power of the authority or government.

To arrive at this answer, we need to understand the key ideas of the Enlightenment and how they challenged political authority. The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement that took place in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries. It emphasized reason, rationality, and the power of human thought in understanding and improving the world.

Enlightenment thinkers, such as John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Montesquieu, questioned the legitimacy of absolute monarchy and challenged the traditional political authority of the time. They believed in individual liberties, equality, and the idea that power should be derived from the consent of the governed.

One of the main ways Enlightenment thinkers challenged political authority was by advocating for limitations on the power of the government. They argued for the separation of powers, checks and balances, and the protection of individual rights. These ideas were foundational to the development of modern democratic systems.

Therefore, the correct statement that best explains how Enlightenment thinkers challenged political authority is: "Enlightenment thinkers often debated ways to limit the power of the authority or government."