Which most accurately describes the shift in political power during the Enlightenment?

The shift in political power during the Enlightenment is most accurately described as a movement from monarchies to democracies. The Enlightenment was a period characterized by a surge in intellectual thought, where philosophers like John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Voltaire advanced ideas of individual rights, governance by consent, and the separation of powers. These ideas laid the groundwork for questioning the absolute power of monarchies and advocating for systems where the populace had a direct say in governance—central concepts of democracy.

The Enlightenment also saw the spread of ideas regarding human rights and equality that strongly challenged the traditional hierarchical structures of government. This intellectual shift influenced revolutions, such as the American and French Revolutions, leading to the establishment of more democratic institutions and a decline in absolute monarchy.

This context highlights why the Enlightenment's impact was more substantial in advancing democracy over the influence of other entities or classes, such as the church, the aristocracy, or colonial structures.