Answer:
No one is above the rule of law.
All people have basic, natural rights.
Governments should serve the people and protect their freedom.
All citizens of a country should be free.
The Enlightenment was a period in European history characterized by a focus on reason, individualism, and skepticism, and it had a profound impact on political thought and practice.
How did the Enlightenment influence the formation of modern democracies?
The Enlightenment had a profound influence on the formation of modern democracies in several ways:
1) Emphasis on individual rights: Enlightenment thinkers emphasized the importance of individual rights and freedoms, such as the right to life, liberty, and property. These ideas were reflected in the founding documents of many modern democracies, such as the U.S. Declaration of Independence and the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.
2) Social contract theory: Enlightenment philosophers like John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau developed the idea of the social contract, which held that government exists to protect the rights of the people, and that the people have the right to rebel against a government that fails to do so. This idea influenced the development of modern democratic theory, which emphasizes the importance of government accountability to the people.
3) Separation of powers: Enlightenment thinkers like Montesquieu argued that the powers of government should be separated into different branches, each with its own set of responsibilities and checks and balances. This idea influenced the development of modern democratic systems, such as the U.S. system of government with its executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
4) Popular sovereignty: Enlightenment thinkers like Rousseau argued that the ultimate source of political power should be the people themselves, rather than monarchs or other rulers. This idea influenced the development of modern democratic systems, which are based on the principle of popular sovereignty and the idea that governments derive their power from the consent of the governed.
In summary, the Enlightenment helped to shape the political ideas and institutions that underpin modern democracies, emphasizing the importance of individual rights, government accountability, separation of powers, and popular sovereignty.