History Essay

The 17th and 18th century Enlightenment was extremely important to human history. Many

ideas throughout history were that way, especially since of course they proved many things.

Many of the important documents such as the Constitution and the Declaration of

Independence were made this way because of this time period. Thinkers such as Voltaire

and Adam Smith, who promoted many ideas were alive at the time. In the Enlightenment,

there were three grand Pillars of Ideas: Religion, Gender Equality and Free Economics. 

  Religion was one of the most important things in Enlightenment, as everyone at least

most of the population had a religious affinity. Religion, at the time was only Christianity and

they did not allow people to practice other religions. It was a major problem because people

wanted to practice other religions. However, a thinker wanted to change that, as everyone would

not be at war if they were allowed to do their own religion, in perfect and equal harmony. At the

time, religious practices were only with Christianity, however Voltaire wanted to change that. ''If

one religion only were allowed in England, the government would very possibly become

arbitrary. If there were but two, the people would cut one another's throats, but as there as such a

multitude, they all live happy and in peace. (Voltaire, Letters Concerning the English Nation,

1726) Voltaire states that if everyone was at peace with eachother because of religion, and that

every religion was allowed, everyone would be happy. However, he also gave examples as to

what religions were not allowed, and what he wanted to change. ''There the Jew, the Mahamoten,

and the Christian transact eachother as tho' thy all professed the same religion.'' (Voltaire, Letters

Concerning the English Nation, 1726) These three religions, especially at the time were

growing. Everyone has different beliefs, and everyone else should respect that. That is what

Voltaire is saying.
 Free Markets were also very important to the Enlightened Society. Everyone needed a

place to do commerce. Free markets are completely without interference of government. They

are also with the intention of making a good market, for all tol have. Back then government

controlled commcerce with the consent of the people. However one single man, John Smith,

wrote about this in his book The Wealth of Nations, in 1776. This book itself had a very concise

meaning on what he wanted. He was also a capitalist, not a communist, he further says this by

[Without Government Interference] the obvious and simple system of natural liberty establishes

itself in its own accord. Every man…is left perfectly to ensure his own destiny in a way…''

(Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations, 1776) He was a capitalist, and wanted the free markets to

stay free without government. However, this was also with the rise of capitalism as he writes that

without money, there is no society or interest. This was continued in his writings and his book

through out the Enlightenment. He writes ''by pursuing his own interest he frequently promotes

that of the society more than effectively then when he really intends to promote it.'' (Adam

Smith, The Wealth of Nations, 1776) Adam Smith wrote this also on the year where the

Declaration of Independence was born, further explaining the freedom of nations.

In the Enlightenment, Gender Equality was also extremely important. Gender Equality at

the time was a hot topic. Only men were allowed to get an education, and it baffled women.

Gender Equality also gave rise to Feminism. One writer though disagreed with the notion of that,

Mary Wollstonecraft, someone who was born in London, would write something that shocked

many men. ''To render mankind more virtous, and happier of course, both sexes must act from

the same principle; Women must be allowed to find their virtue on knowledge.'' (Mary

Wollstonecraft, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, 1792) Women were part of these both

sexes, from men and women, to both be able to get education. Many men at the time though,
disagreed. Mary, as she writes the book thinks that the perfect education is completely within

both sexes, and it should be a right to obtain education. (Mary Wollstonecraft, A Vindication of

the Rights of Woman, 1792) She makes the point of education for everyone, including women.

Lastly, this idea impacted society and it helped women in the fight against sexism almost a

century later.

These ideas are extremely important to how we live in society today. These conclusions

are drawn through the use and analysis of the four documents, which quotes are pulled out

expressing each thinker's idea. Each thinker’s idea covers the four main pillars of the

Enlightenment. Those four pillars are what is considered to be most important. These ideas are

still evident in society because we have freedom of religion (at least in the US) We have freedom

of press, we have free economics not controlled by government. We also have gender equality,

and we have a somewhat just and fair judicial system.