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john Locke was an extremely influential 18th century philosopher and was greatly admired by the Founding Fathers of the United States. Voltaire once praised him as â??the man of the greatest wisdom. What he has not seen clearly, I despair of ever seeing.â??

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9y ago
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13y ago

While many point to the British philosopher John Locke (1632-1704) as an inspiration for the American philosophy of govrnment, it was no one individual but rather a number of historical precedents and ideas.

Our founding fathers political choices derived from their roots, English law. The governmental structure of old English systems set the basic structure in which our earliest form of government operated, these political offices and units include such offices as Sheriff, Coroner, Assessor, and Justice of the Peace.

The biggest difference between the Parliamentary government of the English and the new government of the Americas was the idea of Limited Government, being that no single body of government holds too much power (as did the King). Along with political influences of old English office and unit systems, there were several philosophical theories that have influenced our founding fathers, including:

Magna Carta- fundemental rights including Trial by Jury, Due Process of Law, Protection against Arbitrary taking of life, Liberty, and Property

Petition of rights- Limiting the kings power by demanding that the king may not imprison or otherwise punish any person, but that person be lawfully judged by his/her peers. As well as Martial law ( AKA: military law) no rule by military force.

English Bill of Rights- (1668) (AKA "The Glorious Revolution") More individual rights added, Parliament drew up this document in 1689 in effort to avoid the abuse of power throughout political offices.

In 1774, the first Continental Congress listed the Declaration of Rights (and Grievances), followed in 1776 by the Virginia Bill of Rights, and the collective Bill of Rights provided in 1789 by the first ten Amendments to the Constitution.

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14y ago

John Locke's ideas concerning natural rights greatly influenced the creation of the U.S. Constitution. John Locke believed that it was the government's job to protect the natural rights of the individual, that is rights that they are born with.

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11y ago

Locke, Montesquieu, Voltaire, and Beccaria.

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15y ago

John Locke

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John Locke

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10y ago

Ivan Perez

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Q: Which enlightenment philosophers greatly influenced the US Constitution?
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How did the liberalism of the early 1800 reflect Enlightenment ideals?

The Founding Fathers were greatly influenced by the works of Enlightenment philosophers like john Locke and other Enlightenment principles that championed the rights of men. Liberalism beliefs in the rights of individuals was a direct offshoot of values developed during the Enlightenment.


What greatly influenced Thomas Jefferson political ideas?

the enlightenment


What is the literary or philosophical movement of the declaration of independence?

The Enlightenment was the literary and philosophical movement in Europe that greatly influenced the Declaration of Independence. The idea of the consent of the governed, for example, was drawn from philosophers of the movement.


Who were the major contributors of the enlightenment?

Major contributors to the Enlightenment include thinkers such as John Locke, Voltaire, Montesquieu, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. These philosophers promoted ideas such as individual liberty, reason, and the separation of powers, which greatly influenced the intellectual and political landscape of their time.


What was the most significant thing about the Enlightenment?

The European Enlightenment was most important for the ideas of government. New thinkers led the way for governments that were more responsive to the needs and rights of citizens. The writings of John Locke, for example greatly influenced the Framers of the US Constitution.


Enlightenment ideas influence the bill of rights?

enlightenment ideas greatly influenced the bill of rights, dec. of independence constitution and most of our other important documents. without the enlightenment ideas, our country would not be the same as it is now, if it existed at all. some ideas that were influential in our country are:-the rights to life and liberty-freedom of speech-freedom of religion-freedom of thought-democracy-"we the people"and many others. our country has been influenced by the enlightenment and it's ideas greatly.


Movement focused on reason and questioned the power of monarchs?

The Enlightenment valued reason and questioned the power of monarchs. The proliferation of Enlightenment ideals greatly influenced the creation of the United States.


Who influenced John Adams?

Madison was greatly influenced by the works of such Enlightenment thinkers as Joseph Addison, David Hume, John Locke, Isaac Newton


What philosophical movement greatly influenced Thomas Jefferson?

Michael bloxx Two works of political science that greatly influenced the constitution of the united states were: Cyropedia by Xenophon The Prince by Machiavelli


Who were Greek philosophers?

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What did the United States enlightenment period shape?

The Enlightenment was crucial in determining almost every aspect of colonial America, most notably in terms of politics, government, and religion. Without the central ideas and figures of the Enlightenment, the United States would have been drastically different since these concepts shaped the country in its formative years. Both during and after the American Revolution many of the core ideas of the Enlightenment were the basis for monumental tracts such as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Concepts such as freedom from oppression, natural rights, and new ways of thinking about governmental structure came straight from Enlightenment philosophers such as Locke and forged the foundations for both colonial and modern America. All aspects of life, even religion, were affected by the Enlightenment and many key figures from American history such as Thomas Jefferson were greatly influenced by the movement.


In the fields of art and literature Romans were greatly influenced by the culture of whom?

Romans were greatly influenced by the culture of Greece.