What reforms did the Enlightenment thinkers want to bring to government?

Question

anonymous · Answer

Enlightenment thinkers explained the nature of man and politics. 
Adam Smith: functions of government 
 - protection and security 
 - order in society 
 - build infrastructure 
Baron de Montesquieu: perfect government 
 - 3 branch gov. with checks and balances 
 Jean-Jaques Rousseau: people are born good but society corrupts them, popular sovereignty- gov. for the people, of the people, by the people 
 characteristics of the enlightenment: 
 rationalism, optimism, secularism, scientific method, cosmology, deism, freedom of thought, tolerance, utilitarianism, mass education, legal/penal reforms, cosmopolitanism