Final answer:
The Enlightenment heavily influenced the Founding Fathers, guiding the principles of individual rights and the structure of the U.S. government Drawing from thinkers like Locke and Montesquieu, American leaders integrated these ideas into the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Enlightenment had a profound influence on the Founding Fathers of the United States, impacting their views on government and the rights of individuals. Philosophers like John Locke, who emphasized natural rights to life, liberty, and property, and Baron de Montesquieu, who advocated for the separation of powers within a government, were of particular significance. Their writings encouraged the idea that a government's duty is to serve the people, a revolutionary concept that propelled the American founders to seek independence from Britain and establish a government based on these Enlightenment principles.
Thomas Paine's work, Common Sense, embodied the Enlightenment ideals and argued against hereditary monarchy while promoting the natural equality of human beings. It resonated with both the economic and philosophical aspects of the revolution, influencing public opinion in favor of independence. Following their victory over the British, the Founding Fathers created a government framework that integrated these philosophies, as seen in the separation of powers within the U.S. Constitution and the notion of 'the pursuit of happiness' in the Declaration of Independence, drawing directly from Enlightenment ideals.