Charles-Louis De Secondat: Montesquieu

Louis Riel was a driving force throughout his entire life. He was a traitor to some, a hero to more, and a leader to all. The father of Manitoba’s actions influence Canada even today, through the Métis he so loved and the government he so radically opposed. Without his political action and leadership skills, we might not have the Manitoba we do now. Born in a period of rapid change for Canada and the territory surrounding it, he was the voice of the minority people during the resistance in Red River.

The New Science is summarized in one sentence “Liberty is a right of doing whatever the law permits, and if a citizen could do what they forbid he would be no longer be possessed of liberty, because all his fellow citizens would have the same power.” This provides a system that prevents legal officials from exceeding their legal authority. Montesquieu, along with the Virginia Plan, both

With the fall of the Carolingian Empire, Europe was left in a frantic and militaristic state marked by violence amongst fluctuating kingdoms and territorial leaders. In the early 12th century, however, France was beginning to experience a positive change in the monarchy when Louis the VI became king in 1108. Also known as Louis the Fat (due to his massive weight towards the end of his life), Louis was able to assert his force as king by giving just, and often violent, punishments to criminals and enemies. Once a confidant to the king and eventually the abbot of St. Denis, Suger writes about Louis’ various acts in The Deeds of Louis the Fat. These deeds helped to shape France’s monarchy into a powerful, centralized unit that would continue for

When Charles arrived in France, he was told that they had changed the laws and now any Monsieur could be jailed for any wrong doings against the people. When he learned of this, he was willing to sacrifice his life to fulfill a promise he had made a very long time ago. This act of selflessness and trustworthiness plays a major role in why Charles is considered a hero. To save him, Dr. Manette went through extreme measures to both keep him alive, then to eventually free him. Charles had to rely on Mr. Manette so much that when it was finally time for Charles trial, “Charles Darnay had set his foot according to Doctor Manette’s reiterated instructions.

Thomas Jefferson’s works and ideas laid the foundation for several key aspects on the limits of the United States government, the idea of separation of church and state, and the importance of personal rights. Jefferson wrote many influential pieces of literature which pushed the concept of having limited government power. Jefferson wanted America not to be like the European monarchies that fell due to religious strife, so he emphasized a secular government. Jefferson, following closely with the ideas of John Locke, stressed the importance of the protection of individual rights against the government. Thomas Jefferson believed that a government should have limitations.

Consequently, a limited government was created in response to these new thoughts. Furthermore, this new type of government was extremely revolutionary because it changed the way that the citizens had thought or viewed about the government. Two Enlightenment philosophers that influenced the creation of the government were John Locke and Montesquieu. John Locke had the belief that everyone had natural rights (life, liberty, property) and that if the government failed to protect these rights, they could be overthrown and replaced. Also, Montesquieu’s idea of the separation of powers helped shape the government.

This system allows all three branches of government to try to improve or just outright veto the actions of another branch, keeping the other branches from being too powerful. One example is that then president, who is in charge of the Executive branch, can veto laws passed by Congress. Another example would be that Congress can remove the president from office in certain circumstances. The French philosopher Montesquieu originally thought of these ideas of separation of powers and the system of checks and balances. The way he saw it, is that these systems were the best way of keeping government from becoming corrupt.

Charles father Pippen, the king before Charles, die in 768. After his death Charles and his bother Carloman became co-ruler. Einhard would example Charles relationship with his brother. “After the death of his father [in 768], when he was sharing the kingdom with his brother [Carloman], he endured the pettiness and jealousy of his brother with such great patience, that it seemed remarkable to all that he could be provoked to anger by him” (18). Charles relationship with his brother was decent, however his relationship.

Napoleon spread enlightenment ideas that benefited the people in France. He created the Napoleonic code, which was basically the first written document of laws. That meant that the judge could not change anything, but the laws applied to all citizens equally and protected their rights. He gave people religious tolerance, which means people had religious freedom. He also created a system of meritocracy, giving positions based on people's talents and not to the ones that are higher classes.

This sharing of power added ideas from the newly formed government that focused on the freedoms of citizens in England. Voltaire contended that the English government had successfully limited the power of the monarchy by affirming the power of the nobility, criticizing the French feudal system for its inability to share political power amongst the citizens of France (6). Advocating a limited monarchy to hold political discussions concerning the progress of the French government towards liberal reforms during the French Revolution. Voltaire as an enlightened philosophe, published papers about the rationality of the French government, which influenced his attitude towards the English constitutional monarchy that implemented the enlightened ideal of liberty. John Locke wrote that the purpose of electing legislative powers was to create laws and rules that protected the “properties of all the members of society,” a natural right of mankind (5).

John Locke and Baron de Montesquieu were political philosophers that debated the question of who was best fit to control the government. Locke and Montesquieu shared similar political beliefs such as natural rights and the separation of government powers. However, both philosophers did, in fact, have their personal views that helped them accomplish important achievements. John Locke published “Two Treatises of Government” and “ An Essay Concerning Human Understanding,” which present a detail philosophy of the mind and thought. Locke’s “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding,” lays out his philosophical project.

Rousseau, one of the most leading philosophers during the Enlightenment, had indeed left many of legendries behind. Not only his writings had caused many of the reactions at that time, but also influenced many writers’ aspects of the French Revolution and the overall understanding of inequality and the General Will. As one of the chief political theorists during the French Revolution who was also influenced by Rousseau’s ideas, Abbe Sieyes, published the pamphlet, “What is the Third Estate?” in 1789. This pamphlet was one of the documents that changed the world and lit the flame toward the French Revolution, as characterized by Joe Janes, a University of Washington professor (Janes).

Charles de Secondat, The baron de Montesquieu came from French nobility. In his most famous work, The Spirit of the Laws, Montesquieu attempted to apply the scientific method to the comparative study of governments to determine the “Natural laws” governing

Montesquieu has three principles of government, which are the Aristocracy, Monarchy, and Despotic. He states that each of these principles is based on their morals and their interpretation of the law of nature. The way that a republic should be governed is by the idea of virtue. Then for a monarchy government, they think it 's a good idea to govern this system by honor. Finally, for a despotic government system is run by the idea of fear.

With his curiosity he was able to compose a writing talking about the three various types of governments he believed existed, republican governments (democracy & aristocracy,) monarchies and despotisms. What he aimed in this piece, was what made these governments what they were, and what made their development restrain or progress. This theory called "The Separation of Powers" created a gigantic impact in liberal political theories and the U.S. Constitution. One of his secondary masterworks would be " The Spirit of the Laws" which talks about human laws and social institutions, which seemed impossible to Montesquieu. Simply because physical laws, were understandably controlled by God, meanwhile social institutions are created by unreliable human beings following abrupt passions.