1748Reputable sourceWell documented
Montesquieu and the Separation of Powers
On the timeline · around 1748 ·
What happened
In The Spirit of the Laws (1748), the French thinker Montesquieu analyzed different forms of government and argued that liberty is best protected when political power is divided among separate branches — legislative, executive, and judicial — that check and balance one another.
Why it matters
Montesquieu's separation of powers became a cornerstone of modern constitutional design, built directly into the United States Constitution and countless others around the world.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Montesquieu · Reputable source