Gina Hull

Period 2
11/27/18 Influence On Founding Documents Essay

The Enlightenment was spanning from 1685 to 1815 it was the effect of the

Scientific Revolution and known as the “Age Of Reason” it was believed that rational

thought could lead to human improvement this created a foundation of human rights

and a division of power and a new way to think due to these enlightenment ideas, it led

to in revolution within the colonies from the mother countries of Great Britain the

Enlightenment was a movement that focused on freedom of speech and freedom of

press this made the colonist see that they didn’t have many rights under control of the

monarch of England, they wanted freedom this led to the American Revolution, the

American colonies were controlled by the British, but the colonists eventually decided to

fight for their freedom and to make their own government. The American Revolutionary

War lasted from 1775 until 1783 it was fought over who had the authority to impose

taxes,Britain or the colonists. The colinists use ideas from enlightenment philosophers;

John Locke, Voltaire and Montesquieu that helped found our documents that contain

natural rights of the people, religious toleration,natral law, and distribution of power

among a government.

John Locke believed in idea of Natural rights (Natural rights are right that people

supposedly have under natural law) In the United States Declaration of

Independence(was written in 1776 by Thomas Jefferson, it is a valuable source

because it explains to the people the modulation of why the new world wanted
independence) this displays the main components of Locke's social contract the main

components of Locke's social contract the government gains authority to protect the

rights of the people through their consent, the natural rights mentioned are "Life, Liberty,

and the Pursuit of Happiness" was a unique interpretation of government ,within

Amendment Two of The Bill of Rights that say, in case the government is not protect

your natural rights you have the right to own a gun to protect yourself in case the

government does not. He also states his belief that government was made for the

people. John Locke established the idea of human rights should be protected by the

government and he guided the Bill of Rights to be more about the people individually

then the state/country as a whole, also within Amendment 4 that’s states; no

government can force you to do anything unless we were to be convicted of a

crime(including random searches) this goes into depth about what it really means to

have human rights and what the duties of the government is to protect life liberty and

property,Locke beloved that you are given this right by the government and if they are

keeping you from it then they shall be overthrown. They can no longer deprive someone

of something without the process of law this continues right into amendment six of the

Bill of Rights that states right to trial no matter the crime committed. Last off with in the

Bill of Rights Amendment Eight states; no unusual consequences for a crime. Sparks

the y’all of incarceration in the right that we should have protection No matter of the

crime we are entitled to a trial and equal chance during that trial. this impacts things on

today of when people get arrested you have the right to be represented by an attorney

during trial from John Locke that people should be treated equally and have the same
rights no matter what class, no matter what crime, that people should be treated giving

the same things and have the same rights, no person should be punished unusually for

the same crime someone else committed and got a simpler punishment.and he believes

that you are giving these right because everyone was born equal and free.

Voltaire was a French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher famous for

his wit, and he was very passionate and influential of religious freedom in the belief of

separating church from state,​Voltaire and the Marquise analysed the Bible and

concluded that much of its content was dubious. Voltaire's critical views on religion are

reflected in his belief in separation of church and state and ​religious freedom, ideas that

he had formed after his stay in England .When he influences this he was mostly shaping

Amendment One that reads; you are given the right to practice any religion and have

the freedom of speech, assembly, and press and divide the government if necessary.

He fought for people to be able to say what they want and not be prosecuted stating “i

do not agree with a word you say but will defend to the death your right to say it’ and he

influences fact that you don’t have to believe in the same thing your state does, Voltaire

A strong advocate against censorship,influences the Declaration of Independence if you

will get Article XI that says no specific religion to hold government position he influences

by being an advocate for religious tolerance in the government to become a more

diverse government system by having people from all perspectives and witches to help

his writing with his weight and style made him one of France’s greatest of ideas and

philosophies hoping develop and pushes ideas for he also influences the declaration of
independence if you will get article XI that says no specific religion to hold government

position he influences by being an advocate for religious tolerance in the government to

become a more devils government system by having people from all perspectives and

legends to help his writing with his weight in style made him one of France is greatest of

ideas and philosophies hoping develop and pushed ideas forward, in paragraph two of

the Declaration of Independence that states if government doesn’t show religious or

show protection your constitutional right as a people can abolish it or change it this is

saying that if the government is not protecting your religion of fighting for your rights

then you can abolish it he influences this part of the document by persuading people to

be more tolerant and “tolerant has never proven a civil world he also brings up the fact

that we should be focusing on original and Lightman ideas of the increase of thought of

human potential.

Montesquieu helped develop separated powers within the government by

designing a three branch system. In Article I, Section II, of the U.S. ​Constitution gives

Congress its powers and limits. Congress ​is the legislative branch of the government,

meaning they are the ones to make laws for the United States of America. The ​article

also creates the two sections of Congress, which is called a legislature​, goes into detail

about how he influence this by creating the idea that if each part of the government is

focusing on one thing then the government would be more efficient but in Article II

Section I, II of the constitution; ​The executive Power shall be vested in ​a​ President of
the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years,

and, together with the Vice-President chosen for the same Term."​by bringing that power

should be equal but different to help in show the lack of chance of dictatorship so bad

decisions within the government is reduced, montesquieu influenced this In 1722 he

began his literary career when he published his most influential volume was ​The Spirit

of the Laws (1748) after that he become very involved in the process of law. In Article III

Section I of the Constitution that states ;​The judicial power of the United States, shall be

vested in ​one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts as the Congress may from

time to time ordain and establish.”​by studying Law montesquieu established a court

system to lose of problems seem to preserve individual liberties with the laws should try

to enslave among citizens.

Due to the influence of Enlightenment thinkers on the Declaration of

Independence, Bill of rights, Constitution they all have a different thing to bring to the

table to modify/ structure out our counties future without them this catches back up to us

by reminding us to take control of what happens politically in our society. our America’s

presidents would have way too much power and people wouldn’t have enough

representation, Montesquieu creates more of an idea of checks and balances ;John

Locke incorporates the idea of on forever rights of the people influencing that if the

government does not protect given right then we have the right to overthrow them,

John Locke, Voltaire and Montesquieu influence The American founding documents
Because it introduces Ideas such as freedom of speech, religious tolerance, separation

of power with any government.