What was the intellectual revolution that started in Europe and spread to the U.S. during the 1700s?

The intellectual revolution that began in Europe during the 1700s is known as the Enlightenment. This movement emphasized reason, scientific inquiry, and individualism, challenging traditional authority and promoting ideas about democracy, human rights, and secularism. Thinkers such as john Locke, Voltaire, and Rousseau influenced political and philosophical thought, laying the groundwork for modern democratic principles. The Enlightenment's ideas significantly impacted the American Revolution and the formation of the United States, fostering a belief in liberty and the pursuit of happiness.