Final answer:
The political problems of the Enlightenment era stemmed from conflicts between the traditional absolute monarchies and the emerging Enlightenment ideals of individual rights and democratic governance, which led to significant socio-political upheavals and revolutions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The political problems during the time of the Enlightenment were largely caused by the collision of traditional absolutist governance with burgeoning Enlightenment ideas of liberty, equality, and popular sovereignty. The feudal privileges of the aristocracy, the intertwined power of the Church, and the concept of divine right came under intense scrutiny. This period was marked by influential thinkers like John Locke, Voltaire, and Rousseau, who challenged the existing order by advocating for constitutional monarchies, republics, and the separation of powers.
Political problems were further exacerbated by the demands of the third estate for political and social equality. These growing tensions led to a surge in revolutionary movements, with the American, French, and Haitian revolutions exemplifying the application of Enlightenment ideals in seeking to establish societies based on the principles of natural rights. However, the ideals were often imperfectly realized, highlighting ongoing restrictions on political rights and liberties.
Furthermore, the writings of Enlightenment philosophers proposed new forms of government organization and put forward social contract theory, emphasizing that governments should protect individual freedoms. These propositions sparked debates that contributed to significant socio-political upheaval, hastening the decline of absolutism and paving the way for democratic movements and the acknowledgment of individual rights within the political sphere.