What is the Enlightenment? Why does it still affect American society today? The Enlightenment was an era when reasoning and using science to explain the once unexplainable during the sixteenth and the seventh century. In fact, some scholars have christened this era “the age of reason”. The Enlightenment proved to be fertile soil for the middle class to take root and flourish under the teachings of revolutionary thought, freedom of monarchies, and freedom of the people. This era of reasoning emphasized the thought of liberty, justice, and the pursuit of happiness.
Many colonists became part of this revolution of hought by creating philosophies, writings, and inventions to contribute to the era. The most famous colonists to make contributions to the Enlightenment era were people such as, Thomas Jefferson, Adam Smith, and Thomas Paine. John Locke, though an Englishman, had a profound influence on all the colonial Enlightenment leaders. However, that still does not explain why American society was profoundly influenced by the Enlightenment. Before, we can understand why the American people were profoundly affected by the Enlightenment.
We must first understand the circumstances American society was n during the sixteenth century. By this time, many colonists felt the British separated from caring about the monarchy. In fact, most of the colonists did not consider themselves British anymore. Many of them believed they were and called themselves Americans. Consequently, they did not like that Britain always had a hand in the Colonists’ wallets and authority over them. There were people who believed that they should break away from British rule. Therefore, there was tension between the Colonies and Great Britain.
The revolution did not start until the Declaration of Independence, however, for the Americans, it started long before when Great Britain tried to tax them into submission. The taxing of the Colonies was carried out by various levies on merchandise imported and exported by the Colonists and the British. These taxes on the Colonist society soon became known as the Intolerable Acts. Subsequently, the Americans were both angry and ready for battle. The overtaxing of the Colonists formed the basis for the Enlightenment ideals to take root.
The philosophies and ideologies of the Age of Enlightenment influenced American society to push for independence from Great Britain. Many of the ideas of the Enlightenment influenced American society, but none were more influencing than freedom from arbitrary power. The Enlightenment promulgated the ideas of liberty, constitutional government, and natural rights. These new ideas spurred American society, during the middle of the seventeenth century, to begin the American Revolution. After the revolution was over and won.
It was time to replace the British monarchy with a new government. The basis of the new government was already being set into motion with the first few meetings of the Continental Congress. The Continental Congress soon realized that they need some form of government. Thus, the necessity of a governing body led to the creation of the Articles of Confederation. The Articles of Confederations formed a government that was impractical. The government could not tax to repay debts and it was too imperceptible to enforce the law.
Thus, the creation of the Constitution was a requirement. The leaders of the Enlightenment united in their desire to reform thought, society, and government for the sake of human liberty created the Constitution to carry out the vision. The Constitution is verflowing with the ideologies and philosophies of the Enlightenment. Though credit for writing the document goes to Thomas Paine (with the help of Thomas Jefferson). A vast major of the Constitution’s philosophies is from John Locke with a sprinkling of Thomas Paine’s and Thomas Jefferson’s philosophies.
I guess plagiarism was not an occurrence back then. Or maybe they meant that more in a literal sense. Who knows? But, I digress. The political philosophy of John Locke informed the development of the idea of a constitutional democracy in the United States that projected the natural right o life, liberty, happiness, and property. The philosophy also set in place the idea of consent of the governed. This why American vote in representatives, government officials, and state and local laws.
But, enough about how John Locke influenced American government. Let’s talk about how the hypocrisy of it all. The hypocrisy of it all is that our founding fathers were talking about freedom this and natural right this, but not one of them thought to give rights to women or African slaves. The state of nature is, according to Locke, a “state of perfect freedom” where umans can order their own “actions, dispose of possessions and persons as they see fit within the bounds of the law of nature, without asking leave of any other man. In short, to be a slave cannot happen unless you give up your right to your freedom because the natural law states you can do whatever you want. Why would you want to be a slave? Locke, also, states the truth that all men are equal as self-evident. Such equality, however, is problematical. If everyone is equal there isn’t a higher authority that can adjudicate between parties with conflicting interests. That only applied if you were white, male, and Christian.
John Locke was firmly not for slavery, however, he does give an exception allowing slavery: A person under certain circumstances can also have limited, even unlimited, rights over another person based on property rights rather than consent. No one can legitimately consent to subordinate themselves or give their freedom to another person. Locke cites an exception, however, based on a distinction between just and unjust defenses against aggression. If the aggressor in an unjust war is captured, the captor has the right of life or death over the erson.
Now, I was not living in the colonial time at the time of the creation of the Constitution (God forbid if I did. ). Nonetheless, I have learned in history that slaves were bought and sold into bondage. Interesting that the founding fathers were so hypocritical about the aspects of who qualified for freedom. However, they did set in place a way to right their wrongs in the future, but I digress. Though with all the hypocrisy in the past. The Enlightenment philosophies have won great and many battles for equality, property right, rights to an abortion, etc.
The Constitution that was only meant free white male Christians financial, physical, and maybe mental bondage now help everyone. Two years ago, America (finally) legalized same-sex marriage this would not have been possible if the Supreme Court had not ruled that it was unconstitutional to banned same-sex marriage. The Constitution has provided success in the ending of slavery; and prevent occurrences such as segregation and discrimination against women, races, and sexual orientation. The only question how far can it go before the Constitution cannot help anymore.
The overall philosophy of proponents of the Enlightenment that their goals included, “freedom from arbitrary power, freedom of speech, freedom of trade, freedom to realize one’s talents, freedom of aesthetic response, freedom, in a word, of moral man to make his way in the world. ” These goals, however, were based on a “scientific” understanding of the world. These ideals are the basis at which America stand for. Through, the battles of time and generational sensitives the ideals of the Enlightenment in the Constitution still stand. Can we get rid of the philosophies nd ideals that made our country?
After all, it is written in our social contract between the people and government. Though the philosophies were hypocritical in the beginning. They are now becoming progressive with each century that passes. The Constitution is hailed as one of the most important documents in the United States of America. Could we destroy the foundation of our government? The ideals that we pledge to our national flag every day during K-12 education? I think not. Which is why I think Enlightenment ideologies and philosophies will never leave the American society.
