The Enlightenment, spanning the 17th and 18th centuries, stands as a monumental period in European intellectual history, its impact reverberating across continents and centuries. This era was marked by a fervent embrace of reason, scientific inquiry, individualism, and a critical reevaluation of traditional authority—a seismic shift in thought that would shape the trajectory of modernity. In the American colonies, these Enlightenment ideals ignited a fervor for autonomy and self-governance, inciting…
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