Montesquieu and the Constitution

Described in The Federalist as “the celebrated Montesquieu,” Charles de Montesquieu was cited more often than any other author from 1760-1800. In what ways did his writings and ideas help shape the U.S. Constitution and the structure of American government? William B. Allen of Michigan State University, Thomas Pangle of the University of Texas at Austin, Dennis Rasmussen of Syracuse University, and Diana Schaub of the American Enterprise Institute, discuss the political thought of Montesquieu and his influence on American democracy. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates. This program was originally streamed live on July 6, 2023, as part of our America’s Town Hall program series. 

Resources: 

• Montesquieu, The Spirit of the Laws: A Critical Edition, ed. William B. Allen 
• Dennis Rasmussen, Fears of a Setting Sun: The Disillusionment of America's Founders 
• Diana Schaub, Erotic Liberalism: Women and Revolution in Montesquieu’s Persian Letters 
• Diana Schaub, “Montesquieu on the Liberty of Women,” in The Cambridge Companion to Montesquieu 
• Dennis Rasmussen, The Pragmatic Enlightenment: Recovering the Liberalism of Hume, Smith, Montesquieu, and Voltaire 
• Thomas Pangle, Montesquieu’s Philosophy of Liberalism: A Commentary on the Spirit of the Laws 
• Thomas Pangle, The Theological Basis of Liberal Modernity in Montesquieu’s Spirit of the Laws 
• Thomas Pangle, “Considerations on the Romans,” in The Cambridge Companion to Montesquieu 

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You can find transcripts for each episode on the podcast pages in our Media Library.