The Enlightenment By rebecasantos May 26, 1648 Thirty Years' War ends May 26, 1650 Period of Enlightenment begins May 26, 1651 Hobbes publishes 'Leviathan' May 26, 1688 Revolution in England May 26, 1690 Locke's 'Two Treatsies of Government' published May 26, 1707 England and Scotland Unite May 26, 1733 Montesquieu published 'Persian Letters' May 26, 1754 American Revolution begins May 26, 1762 Rosseau publishes 'The Social Contract' Jul 4, 1776 Declaration of Independence May 26, 1781 American Revolution ends May 26, 1787 Dutch Revolution begins May 26, 1789 French Revolution begins May 26, 1791 Olympe de Gouges publishes 'Declaration of Rights of Women' May 26, 1800 The Period of Enlightenment ends