What contributions did Montesquieu and Rousseau make to the structure of American democracy

With Montesquieu's belief in divided government and Rousseau's construction of the general will, both thinkers contributed to the structure of American democracy.  

Rousseau once argued that “Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.”   The desire to avoid this reality was one of his most important contributions to the structure of American democracy.  Rousseau advocated a political structure that would recognize the "general will." The general will emphasized that people would embrace...

With Montesquieu's belief in divided government and Rousseau's construction of the general will, both thinkers contributed to the structure of American democracy.  

Rousseau once argued that “Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.”   The desire to avoid this reality was one of his most important contributions to the structure of American democracy.  Rousseau advocated a political structure that would recognize the "general will." The general will emphasized that people would embrace a vision that would overcome personalized or partisan interests.  The general will was a communitarian expression that should guide political decisions. Rousseau's idea of the general will heavily influences the structure of American democracy.  It guides how the framers of the Constitution viewed popular sovereignty and also how a government predicated upon republicanism should function. When citizens vote for their representatives, Rousseau's general will is the guiding framework through which decisions are made. Rousseau believed that true freedom is only evident when the general will, not personalized interests, is the structure that guides our political decision making.

Montesquieu's primary contribution to the structure of American democracy was his zeal for divided government. He believed that political power is best displayed when it is spread out over different branches of government.  This led him to embrace a structure of government built upon a separation of powers. Montesquieu's separation of powers can be seen in American democracy when the framers created the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of government.  Each branch is vital to the business of governing, but each one holds different responsibilities. They must work in tandem with one another in order for government to function properly.  Montesquieu's contribution to the structure of American democracy helped to avert a state of political tyranny where one branch of government displays too much power over the others.