The Enlightenment significantly influenced the American Constitution by embedding its principles of liberty, equality, and justice into the framework of governance. Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke inspired the notion of natural rights, advocating that government derives its authority from the consent of the governed. This ideology underpinned the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, particularly the Bill of Rights, which safeguards individual freedoms. The separation of powers and checks and balances reflected Enlightenment ideas about preventing tyranny. Ultimately, the Constitution established a democratic system rooted in Enlightenment philosophy, emphasizing rationality, individual freedoms, and the social contract.