In 1–2 sentences, discuss the motive for the U.S. founders to focus on Montesquieu’s and Rousseau’s ideas as a basis for their new governmental foundations

The U.S. founders focused on Montesquieu’s and Rousseau’s ideas as a basis for their new governmental foundations because Montesquieu's theory of separation of powers and Rousseau's concept of popular sovereignty provided useful frameworks for establishing a balanced system of government and protecting individual rights.

The U.S. founders were motivated to focus on Montesquieu’s ideas of separation of powers and Rousseau’s ideas of social contract because they sought to establish a system of government that would prevent the concentration of power and ensure the protection of individual rights.