Final answer:
The Enlightenment led to changes in political thought through the influence on law, education, and politics, the impact of specific Enlightenment principles, and the reshaping of governance systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Enlightenment brought significant changes in political thought by influencing law, education, and politics, as well as reshaping governance systems. Enlightenment ideas challenged the traditional beliefs in divine right monarchies and advocated for new forms of government, such as constitutional monarchies or republics.
Several Enlightenment principles impacted political ideologies, including the belief in natural rights, the social contract theory, and the separation of powers. For example, John Locke proposed that individuals had natural rights to life, liberty, and property and that the people had the right to change the government if these rights were not protected.
Examples of how Enlightenment ideas reshaped governance systems include the American Revolution and the French Revolution. In the American system of government, the ideas of Locke, Rousseau, and Montesquieu are evident, such as the protection of individual rights, the social contract, and the separation of powers.