Baron+de+Montesquieu

= **Baron de Montesquieu ** =



Baron de Montesquieu was born on January 18, 1689 in Bordeaux, France. Montesquieu was a man of letters, a political theorist, and studied law and science. He was originally a rationalist and saw the social life as dominated by unchanging regularities. However, by 1728 to 1731 he saw the profound differences among cultures, and the importance of customs and local traditions. De l'Esprit des lois (1748), Montesquieu’s book made him one of Europe’s prime social and political philosophers.

Montesquieu distinguished the three forms of basic political constitution: repulbiciasim, the spirit of virtue; limited monarchy, honor; and despotis, fear. He respected the Catholic tradition of his native France, but in practice he was a Deist meaning he believed in one god, but that said god did not have strict morals or interfere much in humanity.

How did Montesquieu influence the government? How the founding fathers used Montesquieu as influence for the Constitution
 * Started off his political career by publishing //The Persian Letters// which made him famous over night. This novel included many criticisms of the French government. It included many criticisms of the recently deceased King Louis XVI
 * His most influential document was //The Spirit of the Laws//.
 * States that the constitution of a country reflects who the people are
 * States that different people need different governments
 * States that there are three types of government: Monarchical, Republic and Despotic
 * States ideas about separating powers within a government
 * The founding fathers were heavily influenced by his ideas of the separation of powers within a government
 * The founding fathers tried to incorporate the ideas of three branches within a government
 * The executive, legislative and judicial branches
 * Executive Branch: The president; execution of the law
 * Legislative branch: The House of representatives and the Senate; creates new laws
 * Judicial Branch: Supreme Court; interprets the laws

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//“The government most comfortable to nature is that which best agrees with the humor and disposition of the people in whose favor it is established.” //

In this quote Montesquieu expresses the notion that it is in a government's best interest to agree with the people. His philosophy may have contributed to the idea of a government "of the people and for the people". A government which reflects the desires of the people in its policy is much more likely to succeed than a government who looks out only for its selfish ends.

//"There is no crueler tyranny than that which is perpetrated under the shield of law and in the name of justice.” //

The opposition to tyranny expressed here by Montesquieu is heavily reflected in the American form of democracy. Having just escaped from the tyrannical British monarch, the Americans were deathly afraid of any oppression, especially under the form of justice. For this reason the Bill of Rights was included in the Constitution to protect the personal rights of the citizen.

// "The tyranny of a prince in an oligarchy is not so dangerous to the public welfare as the apathy of a citizen in a democracy." //

In this quote Montesquieu expresses the necessity of a citizen of a democracy to be involved in the government. If one does not care about the democratic process it is more dangerous than a tyrannical prince. For this reason the citizens of the United States must have opinions, utilize their rights to vote, and care about their country.

"Charles Secondat, Baron De Montesquieu." // Montesquieu, Separation of Powers, the Constitution, and the Founding Fathers //. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2013. "Publius." //: A Summary of Montesquieu's, The Spirit of Laws//. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2013. Stark, W. "Charles de Secondat." //New Catholic Encyclopedia//. Detroit: Gale, 2003. //Gale Biography In Context//. Web. 12 Feb. 2013.
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