9/22 Englightenment #2

The Enlightenment ideas were slow to influence the Europeans because they were considered wrong. The ideas the enlightenment thinkers came up with went against the government and church. For example, the idea of John Locke's social contract was unheard of by the government. His idea was that citizens would have natural rights and the government would protect those rights. Also he thought that all people were born equal. Another idea came from Montesquieu. His idea was that there should be different branches of government and checks and balances. This would separate the powers of the government and take away the power from the ruler.