Which time period impacted the ideas of the American Revolution

The correct answer is Enlightenment

The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement that emerged during the 18th century in Europe, which advocated the use of reason (light) against the old regime (darkness) and preached greater economic and political freedom.

This movement promoted political, economic and social changes, based on the ideals of freedom, equality and fraternity.

The Enlightenment had the support of the bourgeoisie, as the thinkers and the bourgeois had common interests.

The liberal ideas of the Enlightenment spread rapidly through the population. Some absolutist kings, afraid of losing the government - or even their heads -, have come to accept some Enlightenment ideas.

These kings were called Enlightened Despots, as they tried to reconcile the way of governing absolutism with the ideas of Enlightenment progress.

Some representatives of enlightened despotism were: Frederick II, from Prussia; Catherine II, from Russia; and Marquis de Pombal, from Portugal.