The American government is rooted in a European movement that sought to question monarch authority known as?

Study for the VirtualSC Honors Government Exam. Practice with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each offering hints and explanations.

The American government is deeply influenced by the Enlightenment, an intellectual movement that emerged in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries. The Enlightenment emphasized reason, individualism, and questioning traditional power structures, particularly the authority of monarchies. Thinkers such as John Locke, Montesquieu, and Voltaire challenged the idea of divine right and absolute monarchy, advocating for concepts like democracy, social contracts, and the separation of powers. These ideas were foundational to the development of the U.S. Constitution and the principles of American democracy, as they encouraged the belief that governance should be based on consent from the governed rather than unquestioned royal authority.

In contrast, the other options do not relate to the foundation of American government in the same way. The War of the Roses was a series of conflicts over royal succession in England and does not pertain to the ideological underpinnings of American governance. The French Revolutions involved changes in government influenced by Enlightenment ideas but occurred after the American Revolution and were not the origin of American governmental concepts. The Black Death was a pandemic that had profound social and economic impacts but did not contribute to the political philosophies that shaped American government. Thus, the Enlightenment stands out as the movement crucial to questioning

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy