How did enlightenment ideals influence governments?

Enlightenment ideals significantly influenced governments by promoting concepts such as individual rights, liberty, and the social contract. Thinkers like john Locke and Montesquieu encouraged the separation of powers and the belief that government should be based on the consent of the governed. These principles inspired revolutions, such as the American and French Revolutions, leading to the establishment of democratic institutions and the protection of civil liberties in various countries. As a result, many modern governments incorporate Enlightenment ideas into their constitutions and legal frameworks.