The Age of Enlightenment was a philosophical movement which dominated and changed many of the ideas held in Europe during the 18th century. The main goals of Enlightenment thinkers were progress, reason, tolerance, liberty, and ending the abuses by the church and state.
The ideas of the Enlightenment were spread from Europe to America by Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. They came to Europe from America and participated in the science and political debates. They then returned to America and many of the ideals of the Enlightenment were incorporated into the Declaration of Independence