'''Baron de Montesquieu''' (1689-1755) [pronounced mohn-tes-kee-u'] was a [[French]] writer and philosopher on political philosophy who greatly influenced the [[American]] [[Founding Fathers]]. In '' The Spirit of the Laws'' (1748) he proposed the concepts of [[separation of powers]] and [[checks and balances]] in government; these ideas were incorporated into the [[United States Constitution]]. His book, ''The Spirit of the Laws'', explained essential aspects of good [[government]] which became enormously influential.
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'''Baron de Montesquieu''' (1689–1755) [pronounced mohn-tes-kee-u'] was a [[French]] writer and philosopher on political philosophy who greatly influenced the [[American]] [[Founding Fathers]]. In '' The Spirit of the Laws'' (1748) he proposed the concepts of [[separation of powers]] and [[checks and balances]] in government; these ideas were incorporated into the [[United States Constitution]]. His book, ''The Spirit of the Laws'', explained essential aspects of good [[government]] which became enormously influential.