Baron De Montesquieu

By: Andrew Gonzalez Professor: Mr. G World History February 23, 2010

Baron de Montesquieu, also known as Charles de Secondat was born January, 1689 in Le Brede France. He died on February 18, 1755 in Paris, France. He lived during he Enlightenment Era and was a French political commentator. He studied at the Catholic college of Juilly, and married Jeanne de Lartigue at the age of 26. Charles inherited a very large sum of money from his deceased uncle as well as the title Baron de Montesquieu. Montesquieu was influenced by other enlightened thinkers such as John Locke and Thomas Hobbs. He studied the Britishs political system and designed his own type of government whom he thought was more effective than a Monarchy. Montesquieu was completely educated in government practices and wanted to share his thoughts with the world. He is most revered and honored for his theory of Separation of Powers into three different branches of government. Montesquieu had many great books that he wrote during his lifetime. His first greatest work was The Persian Letters, which revealed the lifestyles and liberties of the French and the church. The most influential and critical book he wrote was, On the Spirit of Laws, which outlined his his ideas on the ways in which a government would function best. This is the classification of systems of government based on their principles. He was one of the greatest inspirations for the American Constitution, David Hume, Rousseau, and many more thinkers. Montesquieu believed that there were three types of government in the world: a monarchy, a republic, and despotism. He believed that a government elected by the people was the perfect government for that country. However, without the proper balance of power, ex: Parliament frequently was over-ruled by the King. The government would fail

and the country itself might destroy itself. He thought that the success of a democracy was completely dependent on the power actually held by the people of the nation. According to Montesquieu, the three branches of a government would be successful because one branch could monitor the power of another. For a few years in his life Montesquieu spent a few years studying Englands government which had him very curious. In Englands government, the Parliament created the laws, the English Courts interpreted them and the monarch enforced them. This obviously became the basis for the American Constitution less than a century later. In spite of Montesquieus strong belief in a democratic government, he approved of slavery and liked the thought of women holding political office. He believed women were weaker than men and were subject to their authority. He thought that a woman was too weak to control her own household because of her kind and gentle nature. However, with this attitude, governing a nation is ideal rather than being a rash and controlling character. Baron de Montesquieu wasnt the largest figure head in the enlightenment Era but was equally influential and contributive to the future.

Works Cited <http//www.en.wikipedia.org/.../CharlesdeSecondat,barondeMontesquieu>

<http//.www.plato.stanford.edu/edntries/Montesquieu> Prentice, Hall; World History Textbook