Question

How did the Enlightenment influence the American and French revolutions?

a. Voltaire argued that the church was too involved in old politics.
b. Thomas Hobbes told them to do it.
c. The Americans and French believed their governments were no longer protecting their natural rights.
d. None of the above.

Answer 1

The Enlightenment influenced the American and French revolutions through its ideas of natural rights, government's duty to the people, and the rejection of traditional political norms.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Enlightenment strongly influenced both the American and French revolutions through its ideas of natural rights, the relationship between citizens and government, and the rejection of traditional political and social norms.

In the American Revolution, thinkers like Thomas Paine, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson were influenced by Enlightenment ideas of government's duty to the people and the natural rights of individuals. These ideas formed the basis for the American colonists' grievances against British rule and their quest for independence.

In the French Revolution, Enlightenment philosophers like Baron de Montesquieu and Voltaire argued for constitutional monarchy and the separation of powers. These ideas, along with the slogans of liberty, equality, and fraternity, inspired the French people to question the power of the monarchy and fight for their rights and freedoms.