How Did The Enlightenment Influence The American Democracy And French Revolution
“History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme”(Mark Twain). The Enlightenment was a period of time during the 18th century where thinkers applied the principles of reason and scientific method that helped influence society today. A wide variety of books, essays, inventions, scientific discoveries, laws, wars, and revolutions were inspired and created by the Enlightenment (history.com).There were hundreds of different philosophers who helped spread the new ideas but only two really helped ignite the American Democracy and French Revolution.
The American Democracy is pretty much the rule of the people that Americans have their inputs on. There was one specific philosopher who felt really strongly about people having their own rights. This
philosopher was Thomas Hobbes. Hobbes believed in a social contract which agreed on limiting and explaining people's rights. Thomas’s belief made society an organized society. The French Revolution was caused by bad harvests, high prices, and disturbing questions.(Ch7Sec1). Hobbes had an huge impact on the French Revolution because of what he believed in helped others realize that they still have their individual rights yet they couldn't really go overboard. Pretty much the whole Revolution was about them fighting for what's right and that's what Hobbes believed in.
Although there was a wide range of philosophers, the other philosopher that helped influence the enlightenment and French Revolution was Beccaria. Beccaria believed that laws existed to preserve social order and not to avenge crimes.(Ch6Sec2) What Beccaria believed in helped American Democracy because in society today you can't get tortured or put away in jail without a valid reason. Since during the French Revolution most people were fighting and being put away but because of Cesare’s beliefs they couldn't get killed or be unusually punished.
All of the beliefs that the philosophers had impacted American democracy and society today because we all use the beliefs. From freedom of speech from Voltaire to separation of powers so the other group won't gain power from Montesquieu. The French Revolution impacted society today because nowadays people fight for what's right and that's pretty much what occurred during the Revolution.
The American Democracy is pretty much the rule of the people that Americans have their inputs on. There was one specific philosopher who felt really strongly about people having their own rights. This
philosopher was Thomas Hobbes. Hobbes believed in a social contract which agreed on limiting and explaining people's rights. Thomas’s belief made society an organized society. The French Revolution was caused by bad harvests, high prices, and disturbing questions.(Ch7Sec1). Hobbes had an huge impact on the French Revolution because of what he believed in helped others realize that they still have their individual rights yet they couldn't really go overboard. Pretty much the whole Revolution was about them fighting for what's right and that's what Hobbes believed in.
Although there was a wide range of philosophers, the other philosopher that helped influence the enlightenment and French Revolution was Beccaria. Beccaria believed that laws existed to preserve social order and not to avenge crimes.(Ch6Sec2) What Beccaria believed in helped American Democracy because in society today you can't get tortured or put away in jail without a valid reason. Since during the French Revolution most people were fighting and being put away but because of Cesare’s beliefs they couldn't get killed or be unusually punished.
All of the beliefs that the philosophers had impacted American democracy and society today because we all use the beliefs. From freedom of speech from Voltaire to separation of powers so the other group won't gain power from Montesquieu. The French Revolution impacted society today because nowadays people fight for what's right and that's pretty much what occurred during the Revolution.