After analyzing the influence of philosophers on the American Framers of the U.S. Constitution, choose which of the following is given credit for the idea of separation of powers for government.
Hobbes
Washington
Rousseau
Montesquieu
Montesquieu
After analyzing how the U.S. Bill of Rights implemented Locke’s thoughts, select the U.S. amendment that supports his idea of protecting human life.
The U.S. amendment that supports John Locke's idea of protecting human life is the Fifth Amendment.
The options are third, second, fourteenth, eighth.
The U.S. amendment that supports John Locke's idea of protecting human life is the Eighth Amendment.
Montesquieu is given credit for the idea of separation of powers for government.
The philosopher who is given credit for the idea of separation of powers for government is Montesquieu. To arrive at this conclusion, one must analyze the writings and ideas of each philosopher and their influence on the American Framers.
To begin, Thomas Hobbes was a political philosopher whose most famous work, "Leviathan," advocated for a strong, central authority to maintain order and prevent chaos. While Hobbes' ideas emphasized the need for a ruler with absolute power, they did not specifically advocate for the separation of powers. Therefore, Hobbes can be ruled out as the correct choice.
George Washington, although a significant figure in American history and the first President of the United States, was not a philosopher. While he may have been influenced by various philosophical ideas, he did not contribute directly to the development of the concept of separation of powers.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, another influential philosopher, focused on the principle of popular sovereignty and the general will of the people. While Rousseau's ideas were influential in shaping democratic theory, he did not specifically develop or advocate for the separation of powers.
Finally, Montesquieu, a French Enlightenment philosopher, is widely credited with the idea of separation of powers. In his seminal work "The Spirit of Laws," Montesquieu argued for a government structure with distinct branches (legislative, executive, and judicial) that would serve as checks and balances on one another. This concept greatly influenced the American Framers, particularly in the creation of the U.S. Constitution.
Therefore, the correct answer is Montesquieu. By analyzing the ideas and writings of each philosopher and their influence on the American Framers, we can determine that Montesquieu is given credit for the idea of separation of powers for government.