Influence of Enlightenment Philosophers
Following the Enlightenment, European philosophers were influenced by the expansion in thought and discussion promoted by the Protestant Reformation, which encouraged people to challenge the dogma of the Catholic Church, and the invention of the printing press, which encouraged the spread of new ideas. This created great discussion on the ideas of democracy, justice, equality, and individual liberty (Independence Hall Association, 2014b). Prominent political theorists John Locke, Jean Rousseau, and the Baron de Montesquieu were influenced by these discussions (DeLorenzo, 2000).
John Locke championed the “natural rights of life, liberty, and property.” In his Second Treatise of Government, Locke argued that it is citizens who grant government the power to rule, and the government was responsible for protecting the natural rights of citizens. If the government failed to protect these rights, citizens could revoke consent and stage a revolution (DeLorenzo, 2000; Independence Hall Association, 2014b). Jean Rousseau furthered Locke’s idea of consensual governance with the idea of a social contract. A social contract exists between a government and its people (for protection of natural rights). In the event the contract is broken, Rousseau argued that citizens were justified in staging revolution (DeLorenzo, 2000). Montesquieu theorized that an effective government is one with power divided between multiple branches (DeLorenzo, 2000; Independence Hall Association, 2014b).
John Locke championed the “natural rights of life, liberty, and property.” In his Second Treatise of Government, Locke argued that it is citizens who grant government the power to rule, and the government was responsible for protecting the natural rights of citizens. If the government failed to protect these rights, citizens could revoke consent and stage a revolution (DeLorenzo, 2000; Independence Hall Association, 2014b). Jean Rousseau furthered Locke’s idea of consensual governance with the idea of a social contract. A social contract exists between a government and its people (for protection of natural rights). In the event the contract is broken, Rousseau argued that citizens were justified in staging revolution (DeLorenzo, 2000). Montesquieu theorized that an effective government is one with power divided between multiple branches (DeLorenzo, 2000; Independence Hall Association, 2014b).