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Essay / Impact of the Age of Enlightenment in Europe
The Age of Enlightenment, also known as the "Age of Reason", was a movement that saw a leap forward in philosophy, logic and reasoning in the 1700s. This era shaped the entire world today and may have contributed to the development of liberalism, a philosophy that asserts that all men are equal and subject to the same law (1).Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essaySeparation of church and state, economic progress, and constitutional change are the results of this wonderful era. There were many causes for this age, including: Poverty Unequal distribution of wealth Rising bread prices However, the most apparent cause is the Thirty Years' War (2), which was a war in Central Europe that lasted between 1618 and 1648, which resulted in 8 million deaths (3) (approximately 10% of the world population). John Locke, a well-known figure in England, promoted and suggested representative government (2), which is a form of government where the people elected representatives to pass laws on behalf of the people. In 1688, English Protestants overthrew King James II (a Catholic) and named William and Mary (Protestant monarchs) (2). At the end of this movement, several reforms were made which guaranteed the English people many more personal rights and freedoms. Looking a little south of England you will find France. In France, compared to other countries, the Enlightenment revolution arrived a little late. It's because of the philosophers born after the revolution. Locke, Montesquieu and Rousseau were one of the most influential philosophers of the French Enlightenment (4). The French Enlightenment occurred between 1750 and 1789 (1). At that time, people were pining for the oppressive government. The Enlightenment played a crucial role because it pushed people to start the French Revolution. The Enlightenment transformed the French form of government from a monarch to a republic. King Louis XVI was beheaded after the revolution due to his poor leadership. Before the revolution, the poor were taxed the most while the richest were exempt. Unfortunately, the Enlightenment disappeared after the French Revolution. The consequences of the French Revolution were negative. The new governments were oppressive and unjust, committing horrible crimes against other people if they did not agree with their new policies. In the early 1800s, a dictator named Napoleon Bonaparte took control of the French government and made positive changes (4). Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized paper now from our expert writers. Get Custom Essay PaperIn conclusion, The Age of Enlightenment saw a great leap forward in philosophy and logic. In response to the great philosophers, successful revolutions supporting the rights of citizens were carried out – but not the French Revolution. Unfortunately, the Age of Enlightenment died after the French Revolution. This era helped give rise to liberalism and perhaps shape the world around us today – hundreds and hundreds of years later. “Age of Enlightenment” sources. Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, November 7, 2019, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Enlightenment.SparkNotes, SparkNotes, https://www.sparknotes.com/history/european/enlightenment/summary/.«Representative-Government ." Representative-Government Dictionary Definition | Representative Government Definition, https://www.yourdictionary.com/representative-government. “Sutori.”.