The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement that emphasized the role of reason and science in understanding the world and human society. It challenged traditional religious and political authority and promoted individual liberty and equality. The Enlightenment ideas influenced colonial thought by spreading a belief in progress, the natural rights of individuals and the importance of representative government. For example, the Declaration of Independence reflects the influence of Enlightenment ideas in its emphasis on "unalienable rights" and its call for a government based on consent of the governed.
The American Revolution:
The American Revolution was also a major influence on colonial thought. The colonists' successful rebellion against British rule inspired other colonial subjects to seek independence. The revolution also led to the creation of the United States, which became a beacon of democracy and individual liberty for people around the world. The successful revolution in America provided a powerful example of the potential for colonial subjects to overthrow oppressive colonial rule. Furthermore, the ideals of liberty, equality and self-government proclaimed by the American Revolution inspired many colonial intellectuals to question their own political systems and to push for reforms or even independence.