Answer the following question in paragraph form (5-7 complete sentences). Be sure to check your grammar and spelling. Many of the Constitution’s framers had studied the works of Enlightenment writers. Explain how Enlightenment thinkers John Locke and Baron de Montesquieu influenced the ideas in the United States Constitution.

Answer:

John Locke argued that people have natural rights, including life, liberty, and property. He believed that governments receive their authority from the consent of the people and should protect their rights. These ideas influenced the Constitution’s commitment to popular government and the protection of individual liberty. Baron de Montesquieu argued that political power should be divided so that no person or group could become too powerful. His ideas influenced the Constitution’s separation of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The system of checks and balances also reflects Montesquieu’s belief that power should restrain power.