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Impact of Enlightenment on America and Europe
Introduction
The great influence of historical events in the history of countries can never be ignored as these domains eventually shaped the development of societies. Moreover, these events are established as a learning lesson for the future to never repeat past mistakes as great nations. It is noteworthy to indicate that a comprehensive assessment of different historical prospects is one significant form of action to make better inferences about their impact on the social and political set-up of countries ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"bESGDquU","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Bulliet et al.)","plainCitation":"(Bulliet et al.)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":322,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qLzeF6Hj/items/LBEUTS6P"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qLzeF6Hj/items/LBEUTS6P"],"itemData":{"id":322,"type":"book","ISBN":"978-0-495-91313-9","publisher":"Cengage Learning","title":"The Earth and Its Peoples, Brief Edition","URL":"https://books.google.com.pk/books?id=0_UywLyJZ1sC","author":[{"family":"Bulliet","given":"R."},{"family":"Crossley","given":"P."},{"family":"Headrick","given":"D."},{"family":"Hirsch","given":"S."},{"family":"Johnson","given":"L."}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2012"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Bulliet et al.). The enlightenment period has a strong influence when it comes to considering the perspective of America and Europe as two different geographical regions. This particular time-period differently impacted both the regions that eventually played an important role in the overall development of America and Europe. Undoubtedly, the broad grounds of the era of enlightenment dramatically changed the concepts of development and social stability specifically for the areas of America and Europe. It was the time of knowledge advancement and experiment of many new ideas to provide better living conditions to the citizens. In other words, this historical phase is defined as the awakening time for the society to find new and advanced solutions to the existing problems. It is vital to indicate that the regions of America and Europe are recognized as the areas, greatly influenced by the social and technological development appeared as the enlightenment era. This paper focuses to identify and critically analyze the real impact of the enlightenment on America and Europe.
Discussion
The era of enlightenment specifically comprised on time-period of the late 17th and 18th centuries. It was the time that societies greatly experienced the facet of transition in a strong manner. It is important to attain a brief overview of the concept of the enlightenment era before establishing its influence on American and European societies. This form of assessment is imperative to determine the real grounds of the historical concept of the enlightenment.
Overview of the Enlightenment
The time of enlightenment during the 17th and 18th centuries is recognized as the time of great social transformation. It was the time when societies are changed due to increasing forms of knowledge and developments. It was an unforgettable time for America and Europe because, during the enlightenment period, America attained massive development in the form of the American revolution whereas this facet also established in France. The positive implications of enlightenment can also be observed in the case of the immense progress of science in societies. The enhancement of scientific features made it essential for America and European countries to set new targets of economic and overall industrial developments.
The importance of this historical phase is also appeared due to the growing scenario of slavery for millions of people. This specific approach can be established as the negative aspect of this phase when a wide range of people forcefully transported from Africa to the region of the Western Hemisphere. Without any doubt, it can be said that the time-period of enlightenment was the time of immense changes in the societies of America and Europe as it was the era of social experimentation. There are diverse themes actively linked with the overall spectrum of the historical phase of enlightenment. It established its strong position in the form of the intellectual movement in American and European societies that ultimately helped to create new ideas and domains according to the changing requirements of the world. The broad ideas of reason, individualism, and skepticism got a great level of attention that eventually helped societies to obtained better outcomes of development in an appropriate manner. The age of enlightenment significantly based on the intellectual movement of that time period that provides news ways of social development to the countries. Furthermore, it is also crucial to establish that the conventional religious ideas were strongly challenged by the development of enlightenment by considering three main factors of argument, individualism, and the facet of skepticism.
The conceptual elements of logic, individual’s uniqueness, and skepticism are utilized as the primary factors to defined the reality of any concept. It is important to indicate this form of development in society is entirely different from the conventional prospect of belief set by religious ideologies. This form of transition impacted societies in many different political, social, and economic domains. All the thinkers under the prospect of enlightenment established their social position as liberal in American and European societies. They were the ones who actively and strongly encouraged the ideas of equality and human dignity in society and rejected the conventional forms of social development ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"reenEIrE","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Conrad)","plainCitation":"(Conrad)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":318,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qLzeF6Hj/items/QAR8VMZ5"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qLzeF6Hj/items/QAR8VMZ5"],"itemData":{"id":318,"type":"article-journal","container-title":"The American Historical Review","issue":"4","page":"999-1027","title":"Enlightenment in global history: A historiographical critique","volume":"117","author":[{"family":"Conrad","given":"Sebastian"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2012"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Conrad). The traditional ideas of prejudice, intolerance, superstition, and social position were influentially denied by defenders of enlightenment. The Scientific Revolution during the 17th century is categorized as one of the major developments under the changing scenario of enlightenment time-period.
The field of science was greatly acknowledged during the developmental phase of American and European societies. This form of development only appeared due to strong construction and acceptance of the idea of enlightenment or enhancement of knowledge in the form of social settings. Various scientific methods were embraced by researchers of that time to propose better solutions to the existing political, social, and economic tribulations of that period. The growing enhancement of knowledge is utilized by countries to solve their problems and provided better living conditions to all the citizens. It is critical to establish that there was no date from when the enlightenment phase started because it established its position as the wide-ranging transitional movement appeared in American and European societies. It is important to mention that Rene Descartes, Baruch Spinoza, and Isaac Newton are characterized as the major names when it comes to finding initiators of the enlightenment movement as they played an important role to develop many new concepts in the form of social and scientific developments. The great idea of enlightenment started in Europe that ultimately placed its strong position in American society due to the prominent narrative of this form of social development. The American intellectuals, Thomas Paine and Thomas Jefferson greatly influenced by the idea of enlightenment. This specific idea is utilized by these experts as the direction to explore new developmental prospects of the idea of enlightenment. It is interesting to critically and closely monitor the strong influence of the enlightenment separately for the regions of America and Europe. This form of consideration is imperative to make better inferences about the fact that how differently and successfully the approach of enhanced knowledge welcomed by American and European societies.
The Impact of Enlightenment on America
American society is greatly influenced by the progressive idea of the 17th century that appeared in the form of enlightenment. It was the great approach of knowledge awareness for American people that encouraged them to think differently and bravely to find solutions to different issues. America Revolution is one prominent example of the great influence of the changing domain of enlightenment. It was the time of transition for the country that can be witnessed in the case of different spectrums of social, political, and economic developments for Americans. The acceptance of new ideas in the form of enlightenment turned as the aspect of motivation for Americans to proposed and established new domains of development according to the nation’s requirements.
The idea of intellectual upheaval in American history got great attention due to the existence of the age of enlightenment. Experts of history explicitly established this argument that many core ideas of the American Revolution originally derived from the practical spectrum of the enlightenment. The specific social and political movement of the enlightenment period characterized as the one for the American society that encouraged the main factors of freedom of speech, equality in society, freedom of the press, religious tolerance, and more importantly enhancement of scientific ideas ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"WzzzlObU","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Outram)","plainCitation":"(Outram)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":319,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qLzeF6Hj/items/65BYJG4E"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qLzeF6Hj/items/65BYJG4E"],"itemData":{"id":319,"type":"book","ISBN":"1-108-42466-X","publisher":"Cambridge University Press","title":"The enlightenment","volume":"58","author":[{"family":"Outram","given":"Dorinda"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2019"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Outram). The active establishment of all these factors also influenced the movement of revolution for Americans. It was the time when people of America tried to achieve their ultimate objective of independence from England that eventually formulated as the facet of the American Revolution. The connection between the enlightenment and American Revolution is one prominent example of the crucial role of the age of knowledge in the overall development of America as a progressive society over the years.
The philosophical concepts of knowledge enhancement shared by many different philosophers and intellectuals played a critical role in the development of American society. The basic motivation for American colonies to obtain their own lands is recognized as the concept of the enlightenment that greatly prevailed in the Americana society during that time period. There are examples of many significant American leaders who used the idea of enlightenment as the facet to actively stimulate the approach of the America Revolution. Various concepts of the age of enlightenment such as, the freedom of press, equality, freedom of speech, and improved form of tolerance were the main factors that provided foundations to the American Revolution. It is necessary to indicate that American colonists did not have these fundamental rights and they started an influential movement to make their position strong by claiming these basic human rights. The absence of these rights for American colonists in the society eventually upheaval the idea of liberty movement against England that eventually turned as the American Revolution for the country.
The idea of knowledge enhancement under the domain of enlightenment embraced by the political prospect of America. This specific argument was established by Thomas Jefferson that there is a need for giving importance to basic human rights in the case of every citizen of America. These basic rights are characterized as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for every American citizen without any discrimination. Acceptance and establishment of these basic rights in American society is one central influence of the enlightenment on America. The influence of the enlightenment on America can also be prominently witnessed in the case of the legal spectrum established in the country. The separation of power and control of the government-regulated under the theoretical domain established by the movement of enlightenment. The concept of balanced power as the form of enlightenment movement greatly encouraged and embraced by American colonists as they were interested in the right of necessary liberty. The freedom of government was greatly maligned by the main idea of enlightenment that ensured proper rights of freedom and equality for all the citizens of the country without any biasedness. The development of this idea of enlightenment greatly influenced the political and social development of American society as it encouraged the domains of equality and necessary form of liberty for everyone ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"Q4QtAyWN","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Israel)","plainCitation":"(Israel)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":320,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qLzeF6Hj/items/LAVVFGYM"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qLzeF6Hj/items/LAVVFGYM"],"itemData":{"id":320,"type":"book","ISBN":"0-19-966809-4","publisher":"Oxford University Press","title":"Democratic enlightenment: philosophy, revolution, and human rights 1750-1790","author":[{"family":"Israel","given":"Jonathan"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2013"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Israel). The extensive form of government power is successfully regulated by American society by considering the main idea of political development established through the domain of the movement of enlightenment. It can be rightly said that the age of enlightenment played an important role in the country of America because it provides the necessary foundation of power and government development in society.
The Impact of Enlightenment on Europe
The region of Europe was greatly impacted by the growing role of Enlightenment in the form of movement. This particular ideological development greatly reflected in the case of European society because primarily this idea is originated from this region. The age of reason in the form of enlightenment was greatly acknowledged and accepted by Europe to enhance the idea of development in the case of many forms. The traditional ordering of European society was greatly challenged by Isaac Newton and John Locke, who are recognized as great representatives of the age of enlightenment. The laws of gravity developed by Newton dramatically changed the traditional pattern of thinking for the region of American history. This form of research development ultimately encouraged people to think rationally and beyond traditional religious beliefs. The traditional concepts of superstition and false faith were completely rejected after the establishment of knowledge enhancement mainly in the form of scientific development.
The development of the political disorder in the region of England also encouraged experts to find solutions through the new spectrum of knowledge that appeared as the movement of enlightenment. The political expert, Locke developed the idea of the basic right of a people under the country’s constitution. It is strongly established through extensive research on the political field that the government of the Europe region failed to provide necessary protection to the citizens by considering their fundamental rights of life, liberty, and property. This form of knowledge enhancement assisted people to start realizing their basic rights and find practical ways to protect their rights.
The great impact of the enlightenment in the case of Europe can also be observed in the case of changing spectrums of religious ideologies. The enhancing form of reasoning and arguments dramatically motivated European people to start questioning the existence of God. The domain of scientific development made it essential for people to analyze every aspect of life on some analytical foundations. It can be rightly said that the extensive development of the enlightenment in Europe ultimately changed the overall social spectrum of this region. The popular idea of knowledge enhancement appeared as the new Europe which was entirely different from the traditional form of social development. It is observed that due to the accelerating domain of enlightenment, European people were more interested to find the solution to every problem considering the platform of rational thinking and scientific development. The overall political attitudes in Europe were also greatly influenced by the developing spectrum of the enlightenment ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"aXjtyiox","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Barnett)","plainCitation":"(Barnett)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":321,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qLzeF6Hj/items/U7M6GGPK"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/qLzeF6Hj/items/U7M6GGPK"],"itemData":{"id":321,"type":"book","ISBN":"1-5261-3772-0","publisher":"Manchester University Press","title":"The Enlightenment and religion: The myths of modernity","author":[{"family":"Barnett","given":"Stephen J."}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2018"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Barnett). It turned as the direction for the people to evaluated their basic rights considering the standard set by the phenomenon of the enlightenment. The concept of displacement of the monarch greatly acknowledged and embraced under the spectrum of the rational facet of the enlightenment. Different law experts who belonged to the European region were more interested to find realistic solutions in the form of equal distribution of power and protection of the basic rights of all the citizens.
Conclusion
To conclude the discussion on the influential impact of the enlightenment on the region of America and Europe, it is vital to mention that this form of development immensely changed the traditional prospects of these societies. This form of social development greatly influenced these societies in many different disciplines such as the areas of political, economic, and social developments in America and Europe. The impact of the age of the enlightenment greatly appeared in the case of America as it was the facet of the foundation for the approach of the American Revolution and got independence from England. The positive significance of enlightenment for Europe established as actively embracing the approach of scientific development.
Works Cited
ADDIN ZOTERO_BIBL {"uncited":[],"omitted":[],"custom":[]} CSL_BIBLIOGRAPHY Barnett, Stephen J. The Enlightenment and Religion: The Myths of Modernity. Manchester University Press, 2018.
Bulliet, R., et al. The Earth and Its Peoples, Brief Edition. Cengage Learning, 2012, https://books.google.com.pk/books?id=0_UywLyJZ1sC.
Conrad, Sebastian. “Enlightenment in Global History: A Historiographical Critique.” The American Historical Review, vol. 117, no. 4, 2012, pp. 999–1027.
Israel, Jonathan. Democratic Enlightenment: Philosophy, Revolution, and Human Rights 1750-1790. Oxford University Press, 2013.
Outram, Dorinda. The Enlightenment. Cambridge University Press, 2019.
