The Enlightenment was a time period when certain people began to question absolute monarchy and where reason and scientific methods were applied to all aspects of life during the 17th and 18th centuries. The Enlightenment thinkers called philosophes were intellectuals who popularized the ideas of the Enlightenment. The American Revolution (1775-1783) and the French Revolution (1789-1815) were direct causes of the Enlightenment. The ideas of John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Montesquieu all played important roles in the revolutions. Locke's idea of natural rights and publication of the Two Treatises of Government, Rousseau's influence on his followers and Montesquieu's idea of separation of power all influenced the revolutions because they objected to a government that infringed on the people's rights and freedoms and set the basis for modern democracy.

John Locke believed that everyone was born with natural rights. These rights were life, liberty and property. He believes that the government was based on a social contract (a contract between the government and the citizens of between the citizens) between the citizens and the ruler, and that it was important to establish or

Locke influenced the revolutions with his writings; Rousseau influenced his followers, and Montesquieu through idea of separation of power. Enlightenment values were included in the Constitution of the United States and the one in France. The published works of Enlightenment thinkers opened their eyes and influenced them to revolt against the government. The philosophes led the people to see they could change their government and gave them the justification for doing so.

Jean- Jacques Rousseau used his idea of popular sovereignty to influence his followers. He believed the progress of knowledge crushes the individual's liberty and makes a government more powerful. He said that government was for the people and by the people. This was present in both revolutions. Rousseau wrote, "Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains." The people had the right to create a government devoted to the common good of the people. He also believed that the right to rule rested in the people this is known as the General Will of the people. The Jacobins, a group of extreme radicals during the French Revolution, and their leader Robespierre followed Rousseau's teachings. The Jacobins acted on instinct before they reasoned. This started both revolutions. Rousseau said the people had to abolish any government. The French were overthrowing their government because their wants and needs weren't met. The National Convention to the Committee of Public safety elected Robespierre. The task of the committee was to elect leaders and ministers in the war effort. The committee used all its power to arrest and execute suspected enemies of the revolution. The number of executions rose every month, thus starting the revolution in France. Rousseau used

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