Brandon Castillo
Student ID: 001467210
8/17/2025
A. Ideas on Enlightenment from philosophers such as Montesquieu and John Locke paved
the road for what we know today as the United States and how it was founded based on
ideas such as theirs and many other philosophers who believed in what Enlightenment
embodied, emphasizing ideals such as human rights, freedom, individualism, and
fairness. These core beliefs surrounding the concept of Enlightenment heavily influenced
how historical documents such as the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence
were written.
Here are two examples of documents influenced by Enlightenment:
1. U.S. Constitution (1787):
Written by several historical figures. Montesquieu was an Enlightenment
philosopher who advocated separating the powers of the government into
several branches to prevent any group from attaining too much control over
another group. Montesquieu characterized a despotic government with no
separation of powers that “it is clear that in a monarchy, where he who
commands the execution of the laws generally thinks himself above them,
there is less need of virtue than in a popular government, where the person
entrusted with the execution of the laws is sensible of his being subject to their
direction” (Montesquieu,1748, pg. 38). The Constitution followed his ideas
with the three branches of government that are still present today: the
Legislative branch that makes our laws, the Executive branch to enforce
legislation, and the Judicial branch to interpret the laws based on the
Constitution. Montesquieu’s ideas promote fairness and maintain balance in
the government, as written in the Constitution. This framework ensured that
people's freedom was maintained while promoting fairness amongst all parts
of the government.
2. Declaration of Independence (1776):
John Locke’s ideas of natural rights inherent to all human beings, social
contract between government and people, and right to revolution influenced in
forming the Declaration of Independence. Natural rights—life, liberty, and
property—influenced the belief that all men are created equal and are entitled
to these rights, which should be protected by the government. Social contract
mirrors John Locke's views on government power coming from the people,
but the government serves the people's interests in return. The right to revolt is
the right of the people to alter or abolish their government if it violates the
social contract or the people's rights. The ideas of human rights and freedom
Student ID: 001467210
8/17/2025
A. Ideas on Enlightenment from philosophers such as Montesquieu and John Locke paved
the road for what we know today as the United States and how it was founded based on
ideas such as theirs and many other philosophers who believed in what Enlightenment
embodied, emphasizing ideals such as human rights, freedom, individualism, and
fairness. These core beliefs surrounding the concept of Enlightenment heavily influenced
how historical documents such as the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence
were written.
Here are two examples of documents influenced by Enlightenment:
1. U.S. Constitution (1787):
Written by several historical figures. Montesquieu was an Enlightenment
philosopher who advocated separating the powers of the government into
several branches to prevent any group from attaining too much control over
another group. Montesquieu characterized a despotic government with no
separation of powers that “it is clear that in a monarchy, where he who
commands the execution of the laws generally thinks himself above them,
there is less need of virtue than in a popular government, where the person
entrusted with the execution of the laws is sensible of his being subject to their
direction” (Montesquieu,1748, pg. 38). The Constitution followed his ideas
with the three branches of government that are still present today: the
Legislative branch that makes our laws, the Executive branch to enforce
legislation, and the Judicial branch to interpret the laws based on the
Constitution. Montesquieu’s ideas promote fairness and maintain balance in
the government, as written in the Constitution. This framework ensured that
people's freedom was maintained while promoting fairness amongst all parts
of the government.
2. Declaration of Independence (1776):
John Locke’s ideas of natural rights inherent to all human beings, social
contract between government and people, and right to revolution influenced in
forming the Declaration of Independence. Natural rights—life, liberty, and
property—influenced the belief that all men are created equal and are entitled
to these rights, which should be protected by the government. Social contract
mirrors John Locke's views on government power coming from the people,
but the government serves the people's interests in return. The right to revolt is
the right of the people to alter or abolish their government if it violates the
social contract or the people's rights. The ideas of human rights and freedom
