Baron de Montesquieu

By: Deirdre McAndrew,

Mia Diefenderfer, and

Samantha Noll

BIOGRAPHY

Where was Montesquieu born?

• He was born on January 19th 1689 at La Brede near Bordeaux in France.

BIOGRAPHY

What was Montesquieu’s upbringing like?

• He grew up in a noble and prosperous family.

• He attended Oratorian College de Juilly.

• He received a law degree from the University of Bordeaux in 1708.

• He continued his legal studies in Paris.

BIOGRAPHYWhat were some of his major

works?• The Persian Letters

• Was about two Persians who wrote letters to each other about their journeys to Europe.

• The Spirit of the Laws• Written to break down and analyze

human laws and social behaviors.

PHILOSOPHICAL IDEAS

• Liberalism• An economic theory advocating free competition

and a self-regulating market • He was among the greatest philosophers of

Liberalism

• Climate and Geography• Montesquieu thought that climate and geography

affected the customs of a countries population.

PHILOSOPHICAL IDEAS

• Commerce• Thought that commerce had no disadvantages

when comparing to conquering and mining precious metals.

• Religion• He thought that religion was used to perfect an

individual not the welfare of a society.

GOVERNMENT

• Three types of government• Republican governments• Monarchies• Despotisms

Opinions

• How could this thinker affect a desire for American separation from England?

• New ideas

• Allowed people to think for themselves

• Suggested different forms of government