Enlightened writers

Enlightenment writers paved the way of the French Revolution. Voltaire, Diderot, and Montesquieu were the most influential of the writers. They influenced everyone from peasants to Kings and Queens (chnm). These men fully committed themselves to "reason" and "liberty". They believed knowledge could only be gained through careful study of actual conditions, and not religion or traditional beliefs (chnm). The methods these writers used varied from lampooning France’s customs to comparative analysis of their government. Enlightenment writers played a huge role in the French Revolution.
One of the most influential enlightenment writers was Voltaire. Voltaire made a reputation for himself by defending people being persecuted for their religious beliefs. While in prison for upsetting a group of noblemen he created the pen name Voltaire, his original name was Francis-Marie Arouet (answers). He wrote books, plays, and poetry in his pursuit to spread his ideas of freedom of thought and expression, and freedom of religion. He enjoyed making his opponents look foolish. The wrath of the French government and the Catholic Church seemed constant upon him. Voltaire perceived bourgeoisie to be too little, aristocracy to be parasitic and corrupt, and the church as a stagnant force only useful for its counterbalance of its “religious tax” to help create a strong backbone for the revolution (answers). Political theorists, philosophers, educators, and historians all were influenced by Voltaire. Today he is one of the most celebrated citizens in the history of France. Voltaire helped shape the French Revolution.
Montesquieu was another influential Enlightenment writer. He felt that a good political leader showed self-sacrifice and a devotion to the improvement of his country (answers). He believed this was the principle of republican government echoing through American and French political development of the late eighteen century. Montesquieu engaged disturbing satire to scorn evils such as slavery, disproportionate punishments, religious intolerance, and despotism. He believed the only way these evils would end was with the division of power between executive, legislative, and judicial authorities (answers). Above all he is remembered as a defender of political and civil liberty. Montesquieu was a big advocate of the French Revolution.
Equally important is Diderot. He was the creator, editor, and publisher of a massive Enlightenment 35-volume book set named Encyclopédie. In it were ideas of tolerance of diversity, devotion to freedom, and commitment to progress. Some of the most important ideas of the Enlightenment were written in this book set. Diderot was critical of religion, focusing more on science because he thought it brought people a better chance of happiness (sparknote). Besides just facts, explanations, and definitions Diderot included the thoughts of different philosophes on a wide range of topics. Diderot’s goal was to capture all knowledge in western society in these books and let people draw their own conclusions, which is why it became so popular. Diderot created a work that became a primary vehicle in which it spread the ideas of Enlightenment.
On the whole the writers of the Enlightenment fueled the French Revolution. They challenged people to think outside of the box, and question things that they had never questioned before. Of all the Enlightenment writers Voltaire, Montesquieu, and Diderot were the most influential. The ideas of the Enlightenment writers are found everywhere in modern society, including the Constitution of the Unites States of America, and The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Enlightenment writers sparked people to think of their rights as human beings.