The Enlightenment Movement In Europe: Nineteenth And Ninetieth Century

The Enlightenment was a big movement in Europe that believed in reasoning rather than traditions. It brought upon countless changes to Europe between the seventieth and ninetieth centuries. Some major changes were the ways in which people think, the ways in which people were treated, and the ways in which government worked. These changes stuck with society and forever changed the European culture. The Enlightenment movement started from the scientific revolution, which was all about using the scientific method. People became more intelligent during this time period and began to challenge some things in their everyday lives. One of the biggest things to get challenged, was the church, and this created quite a backlash. The people
Many states were absolutists, and the king ruled all, his opinion was the only one that mattered. The people of the states became strong about voicing their opinions, or sometimes even forcing their opinions as shown in France when King Louis was forced to move back to Paris and made to promise he would accept the changes this new time period was bringing on. France ended up going from a monarch to a republic. Many states tried to set up a constitutional sort of government, which is what North America did during they’re revolution. There’s was the most successful by far but came at a high price with war of Britain. Many states did not want to give up their absolutist styles though, they were afraid of not having complete control that things would just fall apart. In France, this is what led to King Louis XVI’s death. He was guillotined and a new republic was formed, answering only to the people and what they decided was best (Hunt et al, 608). This is what many states aimed for, a republic in which the people decide or vote on things. A fairer and more modern style of governing rather than basing everything on one man’s choice, which led to many disagreements and