The Enlightenment

John Locke and Baron de Montesquieu

This was a period of revolution in the history of England. This was when people began to accept the inherent rights of man. The Enlightenment started off in England and it soon was affecting the colonists in the New England colonies. John Lockebelieved in the natural rights of man which were the right to life, liberty and property. Locke’s natural rights, were used in he American Declaration of Independence from 1776. Baron de Montesquieu, believed in the separation of powers, specifically 3 branches which included the legislative, executive, and judicial branch. Thid separation of powers would lower the chances of corruption addecting the government. This type of government gave the people of the government to overthrow the president/leader if he/she was being unfair or unjust with the people.