The Age of Disenlightenment

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Another Enlightenment idea that would not have influenced the establishment of our national government is Montesquieu’s separation of powers. Today in our Constitution, powers are divided among branches and we have a system of checks and balances to prevent the gain of total power which would have happened through absolute monarchy. Also, Rousseau’s direct democracy played an essential role in democracy by giving people the right to a public election of president and Congress as opposed to the divine right of kings that passed down power.

The Enlightenment spirit was also embraced by some monarchs and the relationship between ruler and state changed. Many philosophes believed that the best form of government was one in which the ruler existed to serve the state, respected the citizen’s rights, and supported their welfare. Without this changing idea, the state and its citizens would still only exist to serve the monarch.

Enlightenment ideas were also reflected in the arts—music, literature, painting, and architecture. Without the influence of the Enlightenment, the artistic styles that emerged in the late 1700s, would not have existed today. Instead of the neoclassical style that artists and architects worked in, European art would have continued to be dominated by baroque.

The music scene in Europe would have been dominated by dramatic organ and choral music instead of the more elegant style of music known as classical that emerged. And if it wasn’t for classical music, musical history wouldn’t include the contributions and compositions of Franz Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Ludwig van Beethoven, three of the greatest figures of the classical period in music.

Writers also wouldn’t have developed new styles and forms of literature during the 18th century. European authors would not have begun to write novels. Published works during that time period would not have a carefully crafted plot, the use of suspense, and the exploration of character thought and feelings.

The Enlightenment was a celebration of the human mind. The Age of Enlightenment was a period of new ideas, scientific discoveries, developing governments and laws, inspired revolution, and new forms of art that increased creativity. The United States as we know it wouldn’t exist because the very foundation upon which be built it on started to be put together during this period of radical ideas. People wouldn’t have the freedoms they enjoy to their full extent today such as freedom of thought, freedom of expression, religious freedoms, and freedom of speech, if there weren’t revolutionary thinkers who didn’t fight for them persistently.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

McDougal, Holt. World History: Patterns of Interaction. U.S.A: Holt Mcdougal, 2011.

History.com Staff. "Enlightenment." History.com. 2009. Accessed January 13, 2017. http://www.history.com/topics/enlightenment.

"The Enlightenment." The Enlightenment - Literature Periods & Movements. Accessed January 13, 2017. http://www.online-literature.com/periods/enlightenment.php.

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