Final answer:
Enlightenment ideals of equality and natural rights threatened absolute monarchies by challenging their divine right to rule and suggesting that legitimate government authority is derived from the people's consent.
Step-by-step explanation:
The idea that 'all men are created equal' threatened absolute monarchs in the 17th and 18th centuries because it challenged the traditional notion of the divine right of kings. With Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke advocating for natural rights and the concept that authority comes from the consent of the governed, the legitimacy of absolute monarchies came into question. As these ideas spread, they empowered people to consider governments as human creations amendable to reason and criticism, rather than as unalterable institutions ordained by God.
Absolute monarchs claimed their authority as being above others, ordained by divine will, and immune to earthly questioning. However, Enlightenment philosophies suggested that sovereignty resided with the people, who had the right to alter or abolish governments that did not protect their natural rights. This period saw the emergence of constitutional monarchies and republics, where power was shared and checked, a direct confrontation to the traditional absolute rule.
The French Revolution, among other uprisings, was a turning point that showcased the practical application of Enlightenment ideals, with slogans like ‘liberty, equality, and brotherhood’ catalyzing collective action against monarchical power. The social contract, popular sovereignty, and natural rights upended the structures that had allowed monarchs to rule with impunity. These revolutions demonstrated the potency of Enlightenment thought in reshaping political landscapes and driving profound social change.