Where did the founding ideas of Washington, Madison, and Jefferson find their origins? How did America come to be the preeminent example of the sovereignty of the people? Four professors discuss how the foundational ideas behind this unique political experiment can be traced back to two extraordinary thinkers: John Locke and Baron de Montesquieu. 00:00 - Opening 00:51 - Title Card 00:57 - Locke & Montesquieu 01:21 - Locke's Influence 02:58 - Montesquieu's Influence 03:58 - Constituting a Government: balance of powers 05:42 - Locke and Montesquieu's ideas today 06:28 - End Credits #FedSocFilms #FedSoc #ThePhilosophersBehindTheFounders #FoundingPhilosophers #FoundingFathers #TheFederalistSociety #Locke #Montesquieu Featuring: Professor Paul Carrese | Director of the School of Civic & Economic Thought and Leadership at Arizona State University https://isearch.asu.edu/profile/3062537 Professor Eric R. Claeys | Professor of Law at the Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University https://www.law.gmu.edu/faculty/directory/fulltime/claeys_eric Professor Paul A. Rahe | Professor of History, Charles O. Lee and Louise K. Lee Chair in the Western Heritage, Member of Graduate Faculty at Hillsdale College https://www.hillsdale.edu/faculty/paul-rahe/ Professor Michael Zuckert | Nancy R. Dreux Professor of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame https://politicalscience.nd.edu/people/michael-zuckert/ * * * * * As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speaker. * * * * * Related Links & Differing Views: Democracy in Moderation: Montesquieu, Tocqueville, and Sustainable Liberalism https://www.amazon.com/Democracy-Moderation-Montesquieu-Tocqueville-Sustainable/dp/1107121051 America’s Civic Virtue of Moderation https://jackmillercenter.org/americas-civic-virtue-moderation/ Montesquieu & the Separation of Powers https://oll.libertyfund.org/page/montesquieu-and-the-separation-of-powers Launching Liberalism: On Lockean Political Philosophy https://www.amazon.com/Launching-Liberalism-Lockean-Political-Philosophy/dp/0700611746 Montesquieu and the Logic of Liberty https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300168082/montesquieu-and-logic-liberty Soft Despotism, Democracy's Drift: Montesquieu, Rousseau, Tocqueville, and the Modern Prospect https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt5vm1f9