How did the enlightenment influence the American colonists?

The Enlightenment significantly influenced American colonists by promoting ideas of individual rights, liberty, and the social contract. Thinkers like john Locke argued that government should be based on the consent of the governed, inspiring colonists to question British authority and seek independence. The emphasis on reason and empirical evidence also encouraged a spirit of inquiry and skepticism towards traditional power structures, ultimately fueling revolutionary sentiments. This intellectual movement laid the philosophical groundwork for the Declaration of Independence and the formation of a new democratic government.