Introduction

     Hi my name is Baron de Montesquieu. I was born near Bordeaux, France to a wealthy family on January 18, 1689.  Although my family was wealthy, I was placed in the care of a poor family during my childhood. In 1700, I attended Oratorian Collège de Juily at Meaux, there I recieved a modern education. In 1705, I went back to Bordeaux to study law. I spent the next five years continuing my studies in France. When my father died in 1713, I was placed under the care of my uncle, Baron de Montesquieu. In 1716, My uncle died and I was left with his fortune, office as president of the Bordeaux Parliament and his title of Baron de Montesquieu.
     At age 27, I began serving as a judge. I soon became a famous writer and wrote The Persian Letters in 1721. These letters criticized the lifestyle and liberties of the wealthy French and the churches. After publishing this book, I did not identify myself as the author. When I moved to Paris I joined the luxurious court life there. I was in desperate need of money and my job got very boring so I sold my judgeship. I then took a trip to Europe to explore science.  I also met some politicians and writers who I became very good friends with. When I returned to France I spent two years writing my book on the English Constitution. I then decided to write another book about the study of government. In 1748, after seventeen years of working in this book, I published On the Spirit of Laws. It was a very long book the filled nearly 1,000 pages. I believed that all things were made up of rules or laws that never changed. I also believed the best government was one that the power was balanced among three groups of people. I also believed that the citizens should vote for their government. I believed this because if the government has three branches of officials, the power would be equally divided. No branches of government could threaten the freedom of the people. I do not believe all people are equal therefore, I approved of slavery. I also believed that men were more powerful than women, and women should obey the commands of their husbands. Although I believed women had less power than men, women could still govern.  My beliefs have impacted the modern world because my beliefs developed the idea of a Democracy and the United States now have that government.
     For the modern world I contributed many different ideas. I influenced the US Constitution because I believed in the sepration of powers,  therefore the power could be evenly distributed. The United States today has three branches of government called the Legislative branch, the Executive branch, and the Judicial branch. I also believed in checks and balanced. The three branches of the US check and balance eachother by balancing the power between the government. I believed the best form of government was the one elected by the people which influenced the Democratic Republic.