The Enlightenment Enlightenment Thinkers were inspired by the scientists of the Scientific Revolution. They came up with new ideas about government by applying scientific theories to government. The Enlightenment thinkers were tired of kings ruling - they wanted to give political power to the people. They thought that people had the ability to govern themselves. John Locke is the most famous of the Enlightenment thinkers. He came up with the idea that "all men are created equal ... and have unalienable rights of Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness". The Enlightenment thinkers greatly influenced the American and French Revolutions and laid the groundwork for the modern democracies of today. Sample Regents Questions: 1.) Writers of the Enlightenment were primarily interested in 1.  changing the relationship between people and their government 2.  supporting the divine right theory 3.  debating the role of the church in society 4.  promoting increased power for European monarchs 2.) Which statement reflects an argument of Enlightenment philosophers against the belief in the divine right of kings? 1.  god has chosen all government rulers 2.  independence is built by military might 3.  a capitalist economic system is necessary for democracy 4.  the power of the government is derived from the governed Answers: 1.) 1 2.) 4