Declaration Of Independence And Enlightenment - 1064 Words

The Declaration of Independence and the Declaration of the Rights of Man are two documents that sate the people are ending a relationship with their monarch. One of the two documents led to a successful revolution, the other was the beginning of a reign of terror. Both of these revolutions began with a group of people talking about enlightenment ideas. Enlightenment Ideas are when people begin to start to think that they can rule themselves and not have to have a king. Some Enlightenment ideas include: freedom of religion, the ability to make and pass laws, the ability to vote on what happens in court, the idea of a jury at a trial and not just a judge. All of the ideas mentioned above are some causes of these two major revolutions. The†¦show more content†¦King Louis XVI and Marie Antionette were two people that should not have been ruling a country. King Louis was always gone on hunting trips and Marie Antionette spent every dime of French money. Once the Monarchy ran out money, they started to tax the Third, and poorest, estate. The third estate took up 97% of the population. 97% of the population was starving and the royal family kept spending large amounts of money until the people revolted. The people of France tried to reason with King Louis, but he refused to change his ways and kept taxing the third estate. When the people revolted, they stormed the Bastille and took all of the weapons they could. The people then went to the King’s palace and demanded he fix the way he was ruling before they killed him. The King didn’t listen and was executed along with his wife. Of the three kids that Marie Antionette had, the two boys died of Tuberculosis in jail and the daughter was sent to liv e the remainder of her life in exile in Austria. It may seem as though the people of France had successfully overgrown their monarchy and could begin a life of freedom, however this is not the case. The French had rushed into combat too fast and did not have a plan for what to do after they had killed their rulers. The right of Terror begins where Maximilian Robespierre beheads 40,000 people in the span of ten months for speaking against the revolution. In the end, Robespierre ends up gettingShow MoreRelatedThe Ideas Of The Enlightenment, By Thomas Paine And The Declaration Of Independence767 Words   |  4 PagesThe ideas of the Enlightenment spread to the American colonies, profoundly influencing leaders of the Revolution to create a new structure of government. Enlightenment, as defined in Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, can be broadly defined is the movement towards reason and individualism rather than tradition. The text, by Thomas Paine, challenged the principles of liber ty, equality, and justice. Thomas Paine was a revolutionary thinker who used Enlightenment ideology as a platform to persuade towardsRead MoreIdeas from the Enlightenment in the Declaration of Independence and the Consitution607 Words   |  2 PagesDuring the Enlightenment period, it was the age of reason. Where people understood and viewed things differently. However, centuries later from that time period (1700s) both America and France incorporated and reflected various enlightenment ideas and formed it into several documents such as the Bill of rights, Declaration of Independence both America and France, and the Constitution. These Enlightenment thinkers believed in our natural rights, our equality, and our freedom of speech, expressionRead MoreEssay on Epitome of Enlightenment 1232 Words   |  5 PagesThe Enlightenment, rooted in late 17th century European philosophy, was based on the concept of applying scientific principles of logic and reasoning to all endeavors of life. Having become established in America by the mid-18th century, Enlightenment principles were practiced by many of the most notable â€Å"fathers† of the American Revolution. The American Declaration of Independence, written in 1776 is one of the most significant examples of a document whose writing was motivated by enlightenment principlesRead MoreThe Enlightenment Principles Of Rationalism And Universal Rights1684 Words   |  7 PagesThe Enlightenment period was a revolutionary time where scientific and rational thought became the chief values of society. Thinkers such as John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau were signposts of this era, inspiring populations locally and abroad. This revolution of ideas led to political and societal upheaval throughout the Western world. This essay will argue that the Enlightenment principles of rationalism and universal rights shaped modern Europe and North America through the rejection of absolutistRead MoreClassical Liberalism: Two Trea tises on Government by John Locke1152 Words   |  5 PagesLiberalism, the Enlightenment, was a political movement that has impacted countries and their policies over many generations. The Enlightenment emphasized the notion that men are inherently good by nature (Bentley). The Enlightenment gave people the idea that a king was not necessary to rule over the people because people are not inherently bad. If anything, the people need someone to guide them but not have absolute rule over them. Revolutions have been based off of Enlightenment ideals because theyRead MoreThe Beginning Of The Year1524 Words   |  7 PagesThe European Enlightenment was a time where philosophers began to ponder upon the ideas of democracies and how freedom and equality could change the world for the better. The American Revolution was sparked by the ideas of The Enlightenment, and that was only the beginning of America’s fight for a democracy, all thanks to the ideas of the European Enlightenment. The European Enlightenment helped to shape the world’s society in political, social, and historical ways. The Enlightenment caused many revolutionsRead MoreJean-Jacques Rousseau Influence on the Declaration of Independence743 Words   |  3 PagesThe Declaration of Independence is the foundation of America. It contains â€Å"the words that made America,† (Fink, 9). Five of the founding fathers got together and penned this important document. As they penned this document, they were inspired by a number of European philosophers and writers. One of these philosophers was Jean-Jacques Rousseau. â€Å"Jean-Jacques Rousseau played a significant role in three different revolutions: in politics, his work inspired and shaped revolutionary sentiment inRead MoreReligious, Social, Philosophical, And Political Upheaval1394 Words   |  6 PagesWestern nations such as England, France, and Spain, religious tensions persisted from power struggles between Catholicism and Protestantism throughout the 1600s. However, while governments remained entrenched in organized religion at a state lev el, Enlightenment ideas emphasizing human reason brought about a new epistemological ideology, called deism (Duiker, 463). While this previously unfamiliar philosophy failed to replace the dominant Protestant or Catholic religions of established nations, revolutionistRead MoreThe British Enlightenment And The American Revolution1538 Words   |  7 PagesThe American Revolution was a product of the British Enlightenment as well as both American and British history. The Enlightenment was age of innovation taking place during the 17th and 18th centuries. During this period there were great advancements in science that pushed back religious superstitions, as well as developments in economics and political thinking. (lecture) The British Enlightenment specifically had a large impact on the American Revolution with key figures such as John Locke. HisRead MoreThe Enlightenment Theory Of John Locke1627 Words   |  7 PagesThe Enlightenment theory philosophies of John Locke offered a futu re that could drastically change government, economic and social ideals. Thomas Jefferson borrowed liberally from the enlightenment theory from John Locke, specifically focusing on Locks theories of the equality of men, natural rights, and that people should have a say on how the government treated people. Jefferson created a draft document created a bold experiment, America. The enlightenment philosophy of John Locke theorized that