The Enlightenment profoundly influenced modern democracy by promoting ideas of reason, individualism, and equality. Philosophers such as John Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau advocated for the separation of powers, social contracts, and the importance of individual rights in governance. Their works inspired revolutionary movements, emphasizing that government's legitimacy derives from the consent of the governed. The Enlightenment laid the intellectual foundation for democratic principles, including universal suffrage, human rights, and rule of law. Its ideals shaped pivotal historical events, such as the American and French Revolutions, and continue to inform contemporary democratic theories and practices worldwide.