Simone Lawson
The US Constitution was influenced by the work of several philosophers, including Thomas Paine, John Locke, and Montesquieu. Paine, an English philosopher, wrote Common Sense, a pamphlet distributed during the Revolutionary War, and The Age of Reason, a critique of the Bible. Locke's influence can be seen in the Constitution's emphasis on natural rights, republicanism, and constitutionalism. Montesquieu expanded on Locke's ideas, particularly regarding the separation of powers and the three forms of government: republican, monarchial, and despotic. The founders of the United States, including George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson, were guided by these philosophical doctrines, shaping the political thinking of Americans and contributing to the foundation of the US Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Influence on the US Constitution | Locke, Montesquieu, Paine, Hobbes |
| Philosophical doctrines | Natural rights, republicanism, constitutionalism |
| Philosophical influences on the Founding Fathers | European Enlightenment |
| Philosophical beliefs of the Founding Fathers | Laws, not men, should be the final sanction; government should be responsible to the governed |
| Philosophical influences on the US Bill of Rights | Mill, James Mill, Bentham |
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What You'll Learn
Influence of John Locke
John Locke, a key figure of the Enlightenment, significantly influenced the American Constitution. Locke was a 17th-century English political and social philosopher whose ideas about natural rights and the social contract left an enduring mark on the US's founding documents.
Locke's philosophy centred on the notion of natural rights, namely life, liberty, and property. He argued that these rights were inherent and inalienable, and that governments were formed through the consent of the governed, requiring protection and accountability to the people. This belief in the social contract held that everyone was born into a state of perfect freedom and equality, with no one inherently superior or inferior. The framers of the American Constitution found these ideas compelling and incorporated them into the structure of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.
Locke's endorsement of the right to revolt also formed a critical aspect of his influence. This idea underpinned the American constitutional framework's resilience, conveying that governance must remain just and protective of individual liberties. If a government failed to protect natural rights or became oppressive, Locke asserted the people's right to lawfully challenge or replace it. This thinking significantly influenced the First Amendment and the constitutional framers' understanding of legitimate governance.
Locke's advocacy for the separation of powers as a mechanism to prevent tyranny also profoundly influenced the Constitution's design. He believed that consolidating legislative, executive, and judiciary powers in a single entity would lead to oppression and despotism. The Constitution reflects this philosophy by establishing three co-equal branches of government, each with powers that can counteract the others. This tripartite system, known as checks and balances, ensures accountability and transparency in governance.
Locke's influence is also evident in the Constitution's Preamble, which structures a government accountable to the people. The inclusion of mechanisms for amendments further reflects this, recognising that future generations must have the ability to alter their governing contract. The Bill of Rights, which affirms the unalienable rights of individuals, ensures that the government remains a protector rather than a violator of rights. Locke's ideas about legitimate governance requiring transparency and accountability led the framers to embed checks and balances within the government's structure.
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Thomas Jefferson's views
Thomas Jefferson was a philosopher and political thinker whose views were influenced by the European Enlightenment and the work of philosophers such as John Locke and Thomas Hobbes. Jefferson was a strong advocate for individual liberties and natural rights, believing that the government should be responsible to the governed and that the people had the right to reject any government that infringed upon their liberties.
Jefferson's philosophical views were shaped by his time as a diplomat in France, where he was exposed to the ideas of the Enlightenment and the work of European philosophers. He was a supporter of classical liberalism and believed that the United States Constitution should be accompanied by a written bill of rights to guarantee personal liberties, including freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition. He also supported the separation of church and state and wrote the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, which guaranteed religious freedom and protected the right to express opinions on religion without having one's rights as a citizen diminished.
As the first secretary of state, vice president, and later the third president of the United States, Jefferson played a crucial role in shaping the nation's capital and defining the powers of the Constitution. He sought to establish a federal government of limited powers and was a strong advocate for states' rights, opposing the creation of a national bank on the grounds that it would violate the Tenth Amendment by assuming powers not granted to the federal government by the states.
Jefferson's Democratic-Republican Party became dominant in early American politics, and his views became known as Jeffersonian democracy. He was a strong believer in education and the spread of knowledge, as evidenced by his founding of the University of Virginia. Jefferson's correspondence and writings, including his book "Notes on the State of Virginia," provide valuable insights into his philosophical views and his influence on the development of the United States Constitution.
Jefferson's influence extended beyond the United States, as he advised Greek scholar Adamantios Korais on building the political system of Greece, recommending the use of classical liberalism and examples from the American governmental system. Korais became one of the designers of the Greek constitution, urging his associates to study Jefferson's works, further highlighting Jefferson's impact on political thought and philosophy.
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Montesquieu's separation of powers
The US Constitution was influenced by the works of several philosophers, including John Locke, Thomas Jefferson, and Charles-Louis de Secondat, also known as Baron Montesquieu. Montesquieu is known for his work on the separation of powers, which holds that power must be checked by power to prevent its abuse. In his work, "The Spirit of the Laws" (1748), he identifies three types of government: republican, monarchical, and despotic.
Montesquieu defines a republican form of government as one in which the people possess supreme power. In a monarchy, a single person governs according to fixed and established laws, while in a despotic regime, a single person directs everything according to their own will. Republican governments can be further subdivided into aristocracies and democracies. In an aristocracy, power is held by a subset of the people, while in a democracy, power resides in the body of the people. Montesquieu argues that in a despotic government, there can be no check on the ruler's power and no limitations to safeguard individuals, thus highlighting the importance of separating powers.
Montesquieu identifies three types of power: legislative, executive, and judiciary. The legislative power entails the ability to make laws, while the executive power involves engaging with foreign nations and enforcing the nation's laws. The judiciary power interprets the laws when deciding cases between people. He emphasizes that combining legislative and executive powers in a single person or entity leads to tyranny, as there would be no check on their authority. Similarly, uniting judiciary power with legislative and executive powers results in arbitrary control and a lack of liberty.
To prevent the abuse of power, Montesquieu proposes that power should be checked by power. This means that each branch of government should have the ability to limit the power of the other branches. This separation of powers ensures that no single individual or group has unchecked authority and protects against tyranny and the infringement of individual liberties. Montesquieu's ideas influenced the US Constitution, particularly in the establishment of a system of checks and balances among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the US government.
While Montesquieu is known for his work on the separation of powers, it is important to note that he did not invent the concept. His contributions lie in emphasizing certain elements, particularly regarding the judiciary, and according the doctrine a more prominent position than previous writers had. Montesquieu's work built upon ideas from contemporary English writers and John Locke, expanding on Locke's executive and legislative powers by adding the judiciary branch.
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Thomas Paine's pamphlets
Thomas Paine, an English-born American Founding Father, French and American Revolutionary, inventor, and political philosopher, played a significant role in the American Revolution through his influential pamphlets, including "Common Sense" and "The American Crisis". Paine's writings contributed to shaping American political thought and inspiring the declaration of independence from Great Britain.
Paine's most renowned pamphlet, "Common Sense," published in January 1776, was a powerful critique of King George III and hereditary succession. It advocated for American independence and the replacement of monarchical rule with the rule of law. The pamphlet resonated with the colonists, who were already questioning the authority of the British Parliament to tax them without representation. Paine's ideas, presented in accessible language, helped unify Americans and build support for the revolutionary cause.
"Common Sense" was a 47-page pamphlet that quickly spread throughout the colonies, influencing both the general public and the leadership of the emerging nation. It is considered a significant factor in shifting American sentiment towards independence and pressuring the rebellion's leaders to declare it. Paine's arguments, while not directly shaping the Continental Congress' decision-making, contributed to the intellectual climate that led to the Declaration of Independence.
In addition to "Common Sense," Paine also authored "The American Crisis" between 1776 and 1783. This series of pamphlets further inspired colonial patriots and played a crucial role in maintaining support for the revolution during challenging times. Paine's writings demonstrated his commitment to the revolutionary cause and his belief in the need for a new nation to secure individual rights and freedoms.
Paine's pamphlets had a lasting impact on American political thought, with some of his ideas finding their way into the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. His writings contributed to the development of concepts such as natural rights, republicanism, and constitutionalism, which became fundamental principles in the American political philosophy. Paine's work, along with that of other philosophers, helped lay the intellectual foundation for the American Revolution and the creation of a new nation.
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Natural rights, republicanism, and constitutionalism
The political philosophy of the US Constitution was influenced by the ideas of natural rights, republicanism, and constitutionalism. These doctrines were part of the common intellectual currency of 18th-century America, with the works of philosophers such as Locke and Montesquieu widely circulated through pamphlets during the Revolution and the debates over the adoption and ratification of the Constitution.
Natural rights were a guiding principle for political activists and thinkers in America well into the 20th century. They were also at the core of Abraham Lincoln's affirmation of the equality of all human persons and his condemnation of slavery, as well as the arguments of Martin Luther King Jr. and other activists in the Civil Rights Movement against racial discrimination and segregation.
Republicanism, or classical republicanism, was another key doctrine that influenced the US Constitution. This philosophy holds that government is a social contract with limited powers and obligations to its creators, who can modify it at any time. The founders of the United States, including George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson, were deeply influenced by this idea, as well as by Locke's belief in the need for a civil order to secure the security of persons, liberties, and possessions.
Constitutionalism, the third major doctrine influencing the US Constitution, was intimately tied to questions of political philosophy and the idea of natural rights. While the British Constitution is an example of an unwritten constitution, consisting of common law, the Magna Carta, the Bill of Rights, and various customs and usages of government, Americans have historically favoured written constitutions, as seen in the Massachusetts Body of Liberties, which was written a few years after the settlement of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
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Frequently asked questions
John Locke, Thomas Hobbes, and Montesquieu were three philosophers who influenced the US Constitution. Locke's philosophy, which emphasised natural rights and civil order, was particularly influential during the American Revolution. Hobbes, in his work "Leviathan", conceptualised the state as a large person, with each part paralleling the human body. Montesquieu expanded on Locke's ideas, adding the judiciary to Locke's executive and legislature, and writing about the separation of powers.
Locke's philosophy, which emphasised natural rights and civil order, was a departure from the ideas that had dominated Western political thought since antiquity. By the 18th century, Locke's ideas had become entrenched in American thinking, influencing the revolution and the subsequent constitution. Locke's philosophy guided the founders of the United States, including George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson, who believed that laws should be the final sanction and that the government should be responsible to the governed.
In addition to the influence of philosophers like Locke and Montesquieu, the US Constitution was also shaped by the prevailing political doctrines of the time, including natural rights, republicanism, and constitutionalism. These ideas were part of the common intellectual currency of 18th-century America, and were widely discussed during the Revolution and the debates over the adoption and ratification of the Constitution.
