What did Enlightenment thinkers generally advocate for in governance?

Enlightenment thinkers predominantly advocated for democracy and the protection of individual rights as a fundamental aspect of governance. During the Enlightenment, which spanned the late 17th to the 18th century, philosophers such as John Locke, Montesquieu, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau emphasized the importance of rational thought, reason, and empirical evidence in human affairs. They argued that government should be based on the consent of the governed and should protect the natural rights of individuals, including life, liberty, and property.

This period closely examined the nature of power and authority, advocating for ideas such as popular sovereignty and the separation of powers to prevent tyranny. The emphasis on individual rights laid the groundwork for modern democratic principles and constitutional government, influencing both revolutions in America and France, which sought to establish governments accountable to the people rather than to a monarch or a singular authority.

In contrast to the views of some philosophers who might have supported aspects of strong centralized power or religious governance, the overall Enlightenment perspective was oriented towards democracy and the empowerment of individual citizens in the political process.