Charles Montesquieu and the Spirit of Laws

In 1748, the appearance of Montesquieu’s The Spirit of Laws introduced key ideas to political thought-ones that shaped the minds and writings of the American Founding Fathers. In his comparison of various forms of government, the French philosopher decried abuses of power, slavery, and intolerance, advocating instead for the separation of powers, the value of human dignity, and rule through honor rather than fear. This title outlines his political ideas at a middle school reading level, analyzing The Spirit of Laws firsthand alongside early American political documents.