How Did The Enlightenment A Turning Point In History

The Enlightenment was a major turning point in history. Multiple ideas that were established during the Enlightenment were eventually utilized in many government systems. Although some people known as “Enlightened Despots” did not accept the ideas developed by people such as John Locke, Baron de Montesquieu, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Ultimately, the Enlightenment ideas showed that they were more powerful and were more significant than the power of the army.

There are numerous ideas established by the thinkers during the Enlightenment. One idea was the separation of powers and checks and balances. This idea, established by Baron de Montesquieu, stated the government should be separated into three branches and have equal amount of power.

Also, his idea suggested that not one branch of government would abuse its power and each branch has limits on their power. For example, in Section 10 (Article 1) of the Constitution, it states, “No state shall enter into any treaty, alliance, or confederation;grant letters and marque and reprisal; coin money; emit bills of credit; make anything but gold and silver coin a tender [Legal money] in payment of debts; pass any bill of attainder; ex post facto law, or law impairing the obligation of contracts, or grant any title of nobility.” In addition, in Section 9 (Article 1), it states, “No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law; and a regular Statement and Account of the Receipts and Expenditures of all public Money shall be published from time to time.” Both of these statements in the Constitution show that each branch of government have limited power and can utilize their power to give consent for certain decisions. Therefore, Montesquieu's ideas of separation of powers and check and balances helped to establish the Constitution.

Another idea developed during the Enlightenment was the government protecting natural rights of its citizens and overthrowing the government if its corrupt or inefficient. John Locke stated that if the government is illegitimate, the people have the right to overthrow it. Furthermore, he stated that the government’s purpose is to protect the people’s natural rights. For example, in the Declaration of Independence , it states, “That Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government.” In addition, it states, “ But when a long train of abuses and usurpations pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.” This shows that Locke’s ideas eventually were utilized for an extremely important purpose. Therefore, John Locke’s theories were very essential and eventually useful later on in the Declaration of Independence.

The ideas of the Enlightenment were vital in the construction of the American government. They influenced the establishment of two of the most important documents which utilized the ideas as well. The Enlightenment proved to be a major impact for the system of government many citizens experience today. Thus, the ideas of the Enlightenment were very essential in influencing today’s government system.