The Enlightenment Influence on the American Revolution

Many people have previous interpretations of how the American Revolution came to be. Whether it be political, economic, or independence driven war, there was also a variety of different ideologies that helped spark this movement. We already know that the Enlightenment started in 1685 and this era was crucial for many new ideas including questioning traditional authority, challenging religion, and opposing power of monarchs. Key figures like John Locke, Adam Smith, and Montesquieu were at the root of the intellectual movement. They also happened to spark many new ways of thinking for key members of the American Revolution such as Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and James Madison. These three men were at the heart of the fight of freedom for the 13 colonies, but what many do not know is how much Locke, Smith, and Baron de Montesquieu inspired Jefferson, Franklin, and Madison to create this revolution.