identify voltaire, rousseau, montesquieu. what part did they play in french revolution
Answers
Montesquieu, Voltaire and Rousseau were the thinkers whose
ideas sparked the French Revolution.
Montesquieu or Charles Louis de Secondat, was born in a
wealthy French family. He was a moderate thinker. He travelled around Europe,
and introduced the different political and administrative systems prevalent in
various places to the French people. At that time England had a controlled
monarchy system while in France there was absolute autocracy. He inspired the
people towards a government like England.
Voltaire or Francois Marie Arouet was a strong critic of
religious leaders in France. He did not criticise the monarchy directly. He
advocated free thinking. He instilled courage in the people to raise their
voice against the church and the royals.
Jean Jacques Rousseau said, "The man is born free. But he is chained everywhere." He was influenced by Voltaire. He was the most influential French thinker of his time and is called the architect of the modern era in European thinking. He wrote, 'Emilie' and 'Social Contract'.