The primary impact of the Enlightenment on European governments was the promotion of rational thought, individual rights, and democratic ideals. Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke, Voltaire, and Montesquieu questioned traditional authority, advocating for concepts such as liberty, equality, and the separation of powers. These ideas challenged absolute monarchy and inspired revolutions, including the American and French Revolutions, leading to the establishment of constitutional governments based on popular sovereignty and the rule of law. The Enlightenment laid the intellectual groundwork for modern democratic societies, emphasizing reason and human rights.