The Enlightenment philosophers inspired the Age of Enlightenment and the broader intellectual movement that emphasized reason, science, and individual rights over tradition and religious authority. Thinkers like John Locke, Voltaire, and Rousseau championed ideas of democracy, liberty, and equality, influencing revolutionary movements. Their ideals laid the groundwork for political changes in America and France, promoting concepts such as separation of powers and the social contract, transforming societal views on governance and promoting the rights of individuals in the 18th and 19th centuries.