How did ideas from the Age of Enlightenment influence future movements, such as the American and French Revolutions? Describe at least two ideas and how they influenced the revolutions. Use Lesson 8, slides 16-19 to help answer the question. (4 points)
The Age of Enlightenment was a period characterized by new ideas about government, society, and individual rights. Two key ideas that influenced future movements, such as the American and French Revolutions, were the concepts of natural rights and social contract theory.
Natural rights, as proposed by Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke, asserted that all individuals are born with certain inherent rights that cannot be taken away by any government. These rights include life, liberty, and property. This idea was crucial to the American Revolution, as the colonists believed that their natural rights were being violated by British rule. The Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson, reflects these Enlightenment ideas by stating that all men are created equal and have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Social contract theory, as popularized by philosophers like Jean-Jacques Rousseau, posited that individuals enter into a social contract with their government to protect their natural rights. If the government fails to uphold its end of the contract and violates the rights of its citizens, the people have the right to revolt and establish a new government. This idea was central to the French Revolution, as the French people rose up against the monarchy that was seen as oppressive and corrupt. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, adopted during the French Revolution, reflects these Enlightenment principles by asserting the natural rights of all individuals and the importance of government serving the people.
In summary, ideas from the Age of Enlightenment, such as natural rights and social contract theory, provided the philosophical foundation for future movements like the American and French Revolutions. These ideas inspired the revolutionaries to fight for their rights and freedoms, and to establish new governments based on the principles of equality, liberty, and justice.