Difference Between Thomas Paine And Baron De Montesquieu

Today’s American government is derived from many Enlightenment thinker’s ideas. When one thinks of the Enlightenment period, many names come to mind, including; John Locke, Thomas Paine, and Baron de Montesquieu. These three philosophical thinkers molded our government to how it is two hundred years later. Life, liberty, and property. John Locke stated these three powerful words are the foundations to American natural rights. On page 9 of United States Issues, Ideas, and Institutions, it states; “…the reason government exists is to protect its people’s natural rights of “Life, health, liberty, or possessions.” In order to receive certain protections from the government, us as Americans must surrender a limited amount of our freedoms. For example, citizens must go through an advanced imaging x-ray scanner in airports in order to secure their safety when boarding flights. This type of security measure insures that people …show more content…
Montesquieu furthers influences our current government by stating that we need a separation of government branches in order to strive as an independent country. On page 11, it states; “Montesquieu emphasises the need for separation of powers between the three branches of governmental authority: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial. Montesquieu states that without this separation, ‘…there is no liberty…’ and each branch might behave with “…violence and oppression.’” (Introduction, first paragraph) This separation is influential and relevant to today’s current governmental system because it ensures that no branch can take control of another. Each branch is closely monitored and no branch and make a decision without the other’s approval/disapproval. Baron de Montesquieu’s document, Spirit of the Law, is derived from Locke’s ideas of “natural rights, liberty, and the dangers of an abusive government.” (Page 11, Introduction, first