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∙ 14y agowho were the three french enlightenment thinkers and one english enlightenment thinker who influeneced our founding fathers?
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∙ 14y agoIt was the first permanent English settlement.
The Declaration of Independence was a letter to the king laying out the reasons for independence. It was written by Thomas Jefferson who was known for his ability to write. He had read the enlightenment thinkers and this showed in the document. There was no “new nation” in 1776 and there won’t be until 1789. The “English people” had nothing to do with the Declaration and the population of the colonies was 48% English with the rest of the colonies population were German, Swedish, Irish, Scottish, and from other European countries.
The Founding Fathers of the United States of America never opposed making English an official language; they generally did not consider the question. Benjamin Franklin once jokingly suggested that German should be the national language.
John Locke was an English philosopher and Enlightenment thinker who wrote about the government's job to protect the natural rights of life liberty and property.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Who were the three french enlightment thinkers and one english enlightment thinker who influenced our founding fathers?
The Scientific Revolution had a significant effect on political thinkers of the Enlightenment due to its emphasis on reason, observation, and empirical evidence. This new way of understanding the world influenced Enlightenment thinkers to apply the same principles to politics, advocating for rationalism, individual rights, and democracy.
One major difference is their approach to reason and rationality. English Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke emphasized empirical knowledge and individual rights, while French Enlightenment thinkers like Voltaire and Rousseau focused more on reason, logic, and social contract theory. Additionally, the French thinkers were more critical of established institutions such as the church and monarchy, advocating for greater social and political change.
Enlightenment philosophy and the English political tradition
The Scientific Revolution is often considered one of the events that had the largest effect on political thinkers of the Enlightenment. It gave rise to new ways of thinking about the world based on reason, observation, and the application of scientific methods, which influenced Enlightenment ideas about government, society, and individual rights.
Benjamin Franklin, as he was one of the founding fathers of the American Enlightenment movement.
Benjamin Franklin, as he was one of the founding fathers of the American Enlightenment movement.
Benjamin Franklin, as he was one of the founding fathers of the American Enlightenment movement.
Some notable scientists and philosophers of the Enlightenment include Isaac Newton, who revolutionized physics and mathematics with his laws of motion and theory of gravity, Voltaire, a prominent French writer known for his advocacy of free speech and separation of church and state, and John Locke, an English philosopher whose ideas influenced the development of modern political philosophy and liberalism.
The founders were al very well read. They were all clearly influenced by the writings of Aristotle, Sophocles (e.g., Antigone), and other Greeks, The Bible, Roman Law (the Justinian Codex) and the English philosopher John Locke. and the magna carta, and the English Bill of Rights.
Enlightenment thinkers believed that individuals should have the freedom to express their ideas, participate in political processes, and have equal rights under the law. They would likely find the most freedom in societies that uphold principles of democracy, free speech, and protection of individual rights.
The French term for the enlightened thinkers was "Les Philosophes."