In which of the following ways are the ideas of the Enlightenment included in the U.S. Constitution?(1 point)

Responses

Voltaire’s ideas about property are included.
Voltaire’s ideas about property are included.

Hobbes’s ideas about natural rights are included.
Hobbes’s ideas about natural rights are included.

Henry’s ideas about no taxation without representation are included.
Henry’s ideas about no taxation without representation are included.

Montesquieu’s ideas about separation of power are included.

1 answer

The correct response is:

Montesquieu’s ideas about separation of power are included.

The U.S. Constitution incorporates the concept of separation of powers, which was a significant idea proposed by Montesquieu in his work "The Spirit of the Laws." This principle divides government responsibilities into distinct branches to prevent any one branch from gaining too much power.

While the other options reflect important Enlightenment ideas, they do not accurately represent the specific inclusion in the Constitution:

  • Voltaire did discuss property, but his focus was more on civil liberties and freedom of expression.
  • Hobbes is known for his ideas about social contracts and government authority rather than natural rights as that concept is more commonly associated with Locke.
  • Patrick Henry famously spoke about "no taxation without representation," but this principle is more closely tied to the American Revolution rather than being a direct component of the Constitution itself.