- The Enlightenment was a period in Europe starting around 1715 when people developed new ideas about human rights and government, often discussing philosophy in salons.
- Enlightenment thinkers believed in natural rights: life, liberty, property, and the pursuit of happiness, which governments must protect.
- The social contract theory, proposed by Rousseau, suggests citizens give up some freedoms to a government in exchange for protection of their rights.
- Consent of the governed means citizens agree to be governed, and if a government fails, they have the right to revolt.
- Republicanism, favored by many Enlightenment thinkers like Montesquieu, holds that leaders should be chosen by citizens through elections.
- Enlightenment ideas influenced American Founding Fathers, who incorporated concepts like natural rights and consent of the governed into the U.S. Constitution.
- Key Enlightenment figures include Locke, Rousseau, and Montesquieu, whose ideas shaped modern democratic principles.
- The Enlightenment ended around 1789, coinciding with the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of enlightenment worksheet.
