In which way did the Enlightenment thinkers influence the future political structures in Europe?

Enlightenment thinkers significantly influenced the future political structures in Europe by supporting democratic ideals. This movement emphasized reason, individual rights, and the social contract, which challenged the existing autocratic and feudal systems. Philosophers such as John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Montesquieu advocated for concepts like popular sovereignty, separation of powers, and the inherent rights of individuals, arguing that governments should be based on the consent of the governed.

These ideas laid the groundwork for modern democratic frameworks during significant historical events such as the American Revolution and the French Revolution. The pursuit of liberty and equality championed by these Enlightenment figures ultimately contributed to the establishment of constitutional governments and the decline of monarchies based on divine right and feudalism, reshaping political thought and systems throughout Europe and beyond.