The Enlightenment on the American Revolution - Essay Example

The Influence of Enlightenment on the American Revolution

The influence of Enlightenment on the American revolution dates back to the eighteenth century since America’s independence. The revolution was primarily used to emphasize science and reason. Benjamin Franklin, one of the major British colonists of independence, embodied the revolution. Benjamin was a renowned scientist, printer, and publisher.

Another influential scientist and philosopher was Thomas Hobbes. Hobbes also argued the facts of the revolutionary period. For instance, Hobbes believed that moral ideas could not be found in the natural state of men. In the human's state of nature, Hobbes further put it that it is in their nature to do good and to resist evil. In his scientific writings, Hobbes also emphasized that monarchy as the most significant system of a government.

More to it, the Enlightenment is also referred to as the Age of Reason. As a cultural and intellectual revolution, the Enlightenment was used to emphasize the significance of science over people’s blind faith for freedom. It also emphasized the power of reason over superstition. Other than Hobbes, other colonists also contributed to America’s independence in the eighteenth century. The colonists were:

Benjamin Franklin

As seen earlier, Benjamin Franklin was an American scientist who led America to colonial politics that saw the state’s independence. The statesman emphasized the virtues of acquisitiveness, ambition, and thrift. Similarly, Benjamin also put it that making money was of value if the pursuit of wealth was for the greater good. Moreover, a virtuous pursuit would promote the public good and the self-interests of American citizens.

Furthermore, Benjamin also saw the need to develop peaceful relations among people. Correspondingly, he highlighted three aspects that were critical in providing freedom for state nations. These included a cosmopolitan spirit, freedom to carry out free trade, and above all, reason. In his thoughts, he put it that individual entrepreneurs were better placed with the freedom to accomplish their goals in life. He also emphasized that such American citizens have the power of living a useful life as they focus on achieving their dreams in life.

Moreover, Franklin had a preference for voluntary institutes for government associations. He had it that voluntarism challenged individual citizens to become productive outlets of independence in society. As such, he advised his American people to volunteer to participate in such associations for their own freedom and betterment.

Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson was an American statesman from Virginia. He drafted the Declaration of Independence in pursuit of property over happiness. He emphasized the human needs required to be accommodated for American citizens to meet their daily ends. In his words, Jefferson put it that the human mind continues to progress. Regardless, the progression should agree with the frequent amendments of the constitution and the laws of the state. The thinker’s utterances also capture the aspect of constitutionalism. He pointed out that constitutions are only documents that change when people’s opinions, thoughts, and imagination change. Therefore, their overtime transformation should enable American citizens to maintain pace with the changing times.

John Adams

Adams was also a diplomat who contributed to the ideas of the American movement. In his dissertation works, Adams stood for the aspect of republicanism. He argued the significance of a centralized and unified American government to support the liberty of American citizens. On the contrary, he emphasized the need for a strong executive branch to protect the American citizens from aristocrats who use power to deprive them of their liberty.

What’s more, he added the passionate nature of human beings to build their reputation and personal power. Therefore, he also put forward the need to set bounds for unlimited human passions. That way, the government would control the interest of its citizens to promote reason.

James Madison

Madison was one of the most influential colonists in the state. The architect presented his idea of revolution as having a large republic and separating power in the government. Consequently, he emphasized the danger of having groups that share interests in the government. As an aspect of factions, Madison also explained that a large republic would enable small groups to coordinate effectively despite long distances of communication among them.

In the context of America, the themes of skepticism, modernization, liberty, and reason featured to appeal to the forces that limit individuals to reason. The American thinkers used the press to voice the ideas and knowledge about different religious aspects in America and Europe. Similarly, the voice of the three colonists also questioned tolerance to various ideas on religion. For many people, the movement was a light at the end of a dark tunnel. Among the ideas that influenced the Enlightenment, the most common were:

Cosmopolitanism

The idea presented a view of the American colonists as active individuals in their country. As compared to close-minded people, they engaged many citizens all over the world. Simply put, the thinkers reflected themselves as being ruled by the voice of reason other than prejudice.

Rationalism

Rationalism presents the idea that human beings are capable of reasoning logically to acquire significant knowledge. Ideally, the idea pointed out that people do not have to rely on the Bible scriptures or religious authorities to acquire knowledge.

Scientific Progressivism

The idea pointed out that human beings have the power to make forward progress over time. Subsequently, they achieve the progression by reasoning and observing things clearly, without any limits.

Empiricism

Empiricism emphasizes the fact that one only acquires knowledge through experience and keen observations of what goes on in the world.

Liberalism

The revolutionary idea emphasizes on human beings as carriers of natural rights that the government cannot influence the revolution without their consent. Liberality was rooted based on American citizens who are devoted to protecting their individual independence rights.

The Impact of the Ideas of the Enlightenment

The ideas of the Enlightenment had many effects on the development of the state. In essence, some American citizens applied both religion and science to understand the importance of cultivating leadership and virtue towards the growth of the community.

Generally, the American state draws its inspiration from the thinkers who grounded their ideas for a more stable political order. Essentially, each of the ideas of the American thinkers grounded the universal facts on the nature of the human being.

In recent times, the Enlightenment is characterized as a revolution that was used to give an idea of the human mind. Through the ideas of the thinkers, the revolution has made it possible for human beings to achieve moral progress since independence. Again, if the society aims to achieve genuine dogma and parochialism, humans have to employ the voice of reason and science to solve some of their pressing freedom issues in life.

Similarly, the Enlightenment influence shows how the state has taken the front lead in promoting freedom of various ideals in human history. The ideas of the thinkers of the revolution initiated a great change towards the republican and liberal ideas in America.

Although the Enlightenment was very much associated with liberalism, the republicanism strain contributed to the order and dissipation of freedom in the state. As an aspect of human nature, personalism enables the citizens to live and survive in the political society of America. Similarly, it contends that the dominance of republicanism was enhanced to defend the power and position of a solid and modern culture of the state of America. With a clear understanding that the earth is home for the living generations, every generation in America is empowered to contribute to revolution for the flourishing freedom of the American state.