Enlightenment In America Research Paper

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Pages: 12

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 a revolutionary spirit that would eventually culminate in the struggle against British colonial rule. Britannica, Duignan. B. The Enlightenment's legacy in America is evident in the foundational principles upon which the nation was established: …show more content…
Challenges and contradictions notwithstanding, the Enlightenment's influence remains palpable in contemporary debates about democracy, human rights, and social justice, underscoring its enduring relevance in the quest for progress and enlightenment. Britannica, Duignan. B. The Enlightenment: Seeds of Revolution The Enlightenment's influence on the American Revolution can be traced back to its foundational principles of natural rights, popular sovereignty, and rational governance. Philosophers such as John Locke, whose ideas permeated colonial discourse, articulated the concept of natural rights—inalienable rights to life, liberty, and property that formed the moral basis for challenging unjust authority. These ideas found expression in the Declaration of Independence, where Thomas Jefferson famously proclaimed, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." HowStuffWorks.com, 8 June