Final answer:
In the Enlightenment, a significant milestone related to the 'child' was the recognition of children as having natural rights and the need to protect and educate them for the good of society. This was part of a larger shift toward rational thought and individual freedoms, with the American Revolution serving as an emblematic instance where the colonies ('the child') claimed their right to self-governance based on Enlightenment principles.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the Enlightenment, a milestone was reached in the inherent rights of individuals, including children. This era, also called the Age of Reason, was defined by the emphasis on rational thought and empirical evidence over traditional religious beliefs. Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau advocated for the humanistic view that every individual—including the 'child'—had natural rights. The notion that children were independent beings with their own rights led to the idea of their protection and education as critical to societal progress. This shift in perspective can be symbolized by the moral justification for the American colonies' revolution and subsequent independence, comparing the relationship between Britain and the colonies to that of a parent and a now-grown child ready for self-governance. The 'child' during the Enlightenment is metaphorically seen as stepping into autonomy and individual rights, underscored by the social contract theory, which spoke to the protection of these very freedoms.