Impact Of Enlightenment Ideas On The French Revolution

How Enlightenment Ideas Impacted the French Revolution? Towards the end of the 18th century, almost all of Europe had gone through a period called the Enlightenment. Enlightenment thinkers, and philosophers, promoted reason and human freedom over tradition and religion. France had one of the bloodiest Enlightenment periods in history because they used the ideas of John Lockes Natural Rights, Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s Social Contract, and Voltaire (Franà §ois-Marie Arouet) teaching of Freedom of Speech and morphed it into the French Revolution. In 1762, a Francophone Genevan philosopher and writer, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, wrote a book called, â€Å"Social Contract†. In his book, he wrote about an official agreement signed by the leader†¦show more content†¦In 1759, Franà §ois-Marie Arouet (Voltaire), a political satirist and French writer, wrote a book called, â€Å"Candide† which inspired the Storming of the Bastille. The Storming of the Bastille occurr ed in Bastille, Paris, France, on 14 July 1789. The fortress, armory, and prison known as the Bastille, symbolized King Louis XIV failed to rule over its people that also held political prisoners. The Candide by Voltaire explained the idea of freedom of speech in a love story, explaining it through his characters Candide and Cunà ©gonde: â€Å"I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it† (Document 6). This represents the Storming of the Bastille because when the French citizens formed a mod and went searching for Gunpowder and stormed the Bastille, around 100 people died but still defended their purpose of the French Government. They used Voltaires line by, â€Å"I will defend to the death your right to say it,† and applied it to their life to rebel against the government of France. In 1689, John Locke, an English philosopher, and physician wrote a book called, â€Å"The Two Treatises of Government† inspired many count ries to go through a period of Enlightenment with his idea of Natural Rights. Natural Rights helped cause the French Revolution by drafting a document called, The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of theShow MoreRelatedTo What Extent Was The Enlightenment The Main Driving Force Behind The American And French Revolutions?1479 Words   |  6 Pagesfocuses on the causes of Atlantic Revolutions and will explore the question: To what extent was the Enlightenment the main driving force behind the American and French Revolutions? 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