Question
Which Enlightenment thinker's ideas most directly influenced the American Founding Fathers' concept of dividing government power into three branches?
Montesquieu
Voltaire
Rousseau
Hobbes
Montesquieu
Voltaire
Rousseau
Hobbes
Answers
GPT-5 mini
Montesquieu.
His work "The Spirit of the Laws" argued for separation of powers into legislative, executive, and judicial branches to prevent tyranny — an idea that strongly influenced the American Founders.
His work "The Spirit of the Laws" argued for separation of powers into legislative, executive, and judicial branches to prevent tyranny — an idea that strongly influenced the American Founders.