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Montesquieu believed that all things were made up of rules or laws that never changed. He set out to study these laws scientifically with the hope that knowledge of the laws of government would reduce the problems of society and improve human life. According to Montesquieu, there were three types of government: a monarchy (ruled by a king or queen), a republic (ruled by an elected leader), and a despotism (ruled by a dictator). Montesquieu believed that a government that was elected by the people was the best form of government. He did, however, believe that the success of a democracy - a government in which the people have the power - depended upon maintaining the right balance of power.

Montesquieu argued that the best government would be one in which power was balanced among three groups of officials. He thought England - which divided power between the king (who enforced laws), Parliament (which made laws), and the judges of the English courts (who interpreted laws) - was a good model of this. Montesquieu called the idea of dividing government power into three branches the "separation of powers." He thought it most important to create separate branches of government with equal but different powers. That way, the government would avoid placing too much power with one individual or group of individuals. He wrote, "When the [lawmaking] and [law enforcement] powers are united in the same person... there can be no liberty." According to Montesquieu, each branch of government could limit the power of the other two branches. Therefore, no branch of the government could threaten the freedom of the people. His ideas about separation of powers became the basis for the United States Constitution.

Despite Montesquieu's belief in the principles of a democracy, he did not feel that all people were equal. Montesquieu approved of slavery. He also thought that women were weaker than men and that they had to obey the commands of their husband. However, he also felt that women did have the ability to govern. "It is against reason and against nature for women to be mistresses in the house... but not for them to govern an empire. In the first case, their weak state does not permit them to be preeminent; in the second, their very weakness gives them more gentleness and moderation, which, rather than the harsh and ferocious virtues, can make for a good environment." In this way, Montesquieu argued that women were too weak to be in control at home, but that there calmness and gentleness would be helpful qualities in making decisions in government.

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The principle of separation of powers used in the US Constitution is based upon what enlightened thinker?

Baron de Montesquieu I know this is right because it was one of the questions on my test. And this was the right answer.


Which founding fathers were influenced by the Enlightenment?

John Locke, Baron de Montesquieu, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau provided the ideas that our constitution was founded on. Locke defined "natural rights", while Montesquieu laid out separation of power, and Rousseau gave us The Social Contract.


What do people call the system devised by the Framers of the Constitution that prevents any one branch of government from gaining too much power over any other branch?

The Framers of the US Constitution drew upon the works of John Locke and Montesquieu. Additionally, the US Framers also drew upon the English Puritan revolution of the 1640's. In a manner of speaking, the US became the first "republic" since ancient Rome was a semi- republic.


What roman leader's idea's influenced both Octavian and the future writers of the US of America?

There was a degree of influence from the philosophical and moral writings of Cicero on the writers of the US constitution. However, the real inspiration for their work were the ideas of the French philosopher Montesquieu who produced his own interpretation of the ancient Greek scholar Polybius of the constitution of the Roman Republic.


Who were Montesquieu and John Locke and what were their theories about government?

The ideas of John Locke and Baron de Montesquieu combined to bring forth staples of the American way of life. Mr. Lock though people could possess three right such as life, liberty and property. Mr. Montesquieu developed the balance of power which gave us legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government.

Related Questions

How did baron de montesquieu influence us?

Baron de Montesquieu influenced the United States by advocating for the separation of powers within government, which is reflected in the US Constitution. His ideas on the importance of checks and balances and the division of government into three branches have had a lasting impact on the structure of the US government.


Who purposed the separation of powers that became an important element of the US Constitution?

baron de montesquieu


Who proposed the separation of powers that became on important element of the us constitution?

Baron de Montesquieu


Whose theories of separation powers influenced the writers of the US Constitution?

French philosopher Baron de Montesquieu influenced the framers to adopt the philosophy of separation of powers.


Whose political theory of government is represented by the US Presidency Congress and the Supreme Court?

These three branches are examples of Baron de Montesquieu's theory of government.


Who contradicted the ideas in the US Constitution?

Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison discussed the Constitution in the Federalist Papers. Thomas Jefferson led the opposition because the Constitution did not speak about individual rights. James Madison wrote the Bill of Rights and a compromise was reached.


What document did Montesquieu influence?

the us document that he infuenced was the US Constitution


What influenced Montesquieu?

the us document that he infuenced was the US Constitution


How does Montesquieu influence us today?

he doent


The principle of separation of powers used in the US Constitution is based upon what enlightened thinker?

Baron de Montesquieu I know this is right because it was one of the questions on my test. And this was the right answer.


Which founding fathers were influenced by the Enlightenment?

John Locke, Baron de Montesquieu, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau provided the ideas that our constitution was founded on. Locke defined "natural rights", while Montesquieu laid out separation of power, and Rousseau gave us The Social Contract.


What was Montesquieu's spirit of laws?

Montesquieu's "The Spirit of the Laws" was a political treatise published in 1748. In it, he proposed the idea of the separation of powers to avoid despotism and protect individual liberties. Montesquieu's work had a significant influence on the founding fathers of the United States and the development of the US Constitution.