c) Logic and reason

The Enlightenment, a philosophical movement of the 18th century, profoundly influenced political thinking by emphasizing logic and reason. This shift away from traditional authority and reliance on religious dogma fostered new ideas about governance, individual rights, and the social contract. Figures like John Locke and Montesquieu, with their theories on government and civil liberties, directly influenced American revolutionaries. The Enlightenment’s principles of rational thought and inquiry underpinned the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, laying the foundation for modern democratic ideals. Its emphasis on reason and human capability became central to the development of political thought in the revolutionary era and beyond.