How did the enlightenment thinkers influence the government of the united states? - many ideals of enlightenment philosophers were incorporated in the u. s. founding documents. - u. s. founding fathers like jefferson rejected enlightenment ideals, but used them to created new theories about government. - the enlightenment occurred after the united states was formed, so enlightenment ideas were not influential in its government. -enlightenment ideals were incorporated in the declaration of independence but not in the u. s. constitution.