Montesquieu was an influence on the founding fathers of our country. What idea did he contribute to the Enlightenment? Where in the founding documents of the United States do we see each of those ideas demonstrated?(4 points)
Montesquieu contributed the idea of the separation of powers in the government during the Enlightenment. This means that the government is divided into different branches - legislative, executive, and judicial - to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. We see this idea demonstrated in the United States Constitution, specifically in Articles I, II, and III which establish the three branches of government and outline their powers. Additionally, the concept of checks and balances in the government, where each branch has the ability to limit the powers of the other branches, is also influenced by Montesquieu and can be found throughout the Constitution.
