SAMPLE+ENLIGHTENMENT+PARAGRAPH

Name Period _ English Teacher:
 * 2.21.14**

__**TITLE**__ INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH: HOOK, BK, THESIS

Since new ideas cause revolutions, the Enlightenment caused the French Revolution because of the ideas of Voltaire, Locke, Descartes, and Newton. To start, Voltaire’s ideas made the people of France want a revolution. For example, Voltaire criticized how the French government didn’t give people a say in anything. This caused revolution because it made people of France want to change their government to one that listened to the people. Because of his ideas, Voltaire was locked in prison and his books were banned which made more people read and agree with his ideas. This caused revolution because the ideas that more and more people were reading were about changing the way France was run. Next, Locke had some new ideas that caused people of France to want a revolution. For example, Lock’s idea of “life, liberty and property” made people in France who were poor want what the rich people had. This caused revolution because they wanted to change the fact that the rich got special treatment. In addition, Locke believed all people were a blank slate. This caused revolution because that idea made people feel they should have equal rights, and that made them revolt against the government to get those equal rights. Lastly, Descartes and Newton had ideas during the Enlightenment period that made people start to question the ways things had always been. To illustrate this point, Newton told people to use reason. When people started to use their minds in France, they started to doubt how Marie and Louie ruled which caused them to want revolution. Also, Descartes stressed that people should question everything. This caused revolution because the third estate was happy to question why they were the only ones living in poverty and they wanted to change that by starting a revolution. As you can see, whenever people start to hear new ideas like why the government tis bad or why everyone deserves a good life, they start to desire to get rid of old ideas. When that happens, revolutions start.

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CONCLUSION PARAGRAPH: RESTATE THESIS, MAIN POINTS, TIE TO HOOK