Enlightenment Philosophers Influencing the American Documents
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- Date Submitted: 01/29/2010 01:41 AM
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During the 1600- 1700’s enlightenment philosophers all had different ideas on government and the way of living. All these ideas greatly impacted the colonists, encouraging the American Revolution and helping form its government. These political, economic, and social changes from the Enlightenment also influenced the American documents; the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Five great philosophers greatly impacted the Revolution and the documents and although many think that Montesquieu influenced more ideas then Baccaria, Rousseau, Voltaire, and Locke, Locke truly impacted the most in the creation of U.S. government and its documents.
The rights in the Bill of Rights weren’t based on the ideas of Baron de Montesquieu but the ideas of John Locke. Locke’s ideas of the Natural Rights were the general foundation of the bill, Voltaire and Baccaria went more into detail on his beliefs. In the first amendment, ideas of freedom of speech, press, and religion are a very crucial part of the Bill of Rights. This idea was by Voltaire, he believed strongly in all the rights. He believed in the freedom of speech and press because he was a writer himself and thought you can have a right of thought and expression. He is famous for the powerful quote, “I may not agree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” Voltaire’s second idea was freedom of religion. He believed in this because he lived in France and at that time you could only be catholic. Everyone that was not catholic was kicked out of their homes so he believed that there should be religious toleration. Religion toleration is an important right because there is many religions in the world and is the one of the main causes of war, so if people have freedom of religion there is more hope that there will be fewer wars. The main second philosopher that helped with the Bill of rights was Baccaria; his ideas were put into amendments five, six, and eight. In...
The rights in the Bill of Rights weren’t based on the ideas of Baron de Montesquieu but the ideas of John Locke. Locke’s ideas of the Natural Rights were the general foundation of the bill, Voltaire and Baccaria went more into detail on his beliefs. In the first amendment, ideas of freedom of speech, press, and religion are a very crucial part of the Bill of Rights. This idea was by Voltaire, he believed strongly in all the rights. He believed in the freedom of speech and press because he was a writer himself and thought you can have a right of thought and expression. He is famous for the powerful quote, “I may not agree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” Voltaire’s second idea was freedom of religion. He believed in this because he lived in France and at that time you could only be catholic. Everyone that was not catholic was kicked out of their homes so he believed that there should be religious toleration. Religion toleration is an important right because there is many religions in the world and is the one of the main causes of war, so if people have freedom of religion there is more hope that there will be fewer wars. The main second philosopher that helped with the Bill of rights was Baccaria; his ideas were put into amendments five, six, and eight. In...