Montesquieu publishes 'The Spirit of Laws'

In 1750 Charles-Louis de Secondat baron de La Montesquieu published the crowning achievement of his literary career - 'The Spirit of Laws.' This monumental 1086-page work was most celebrated for three of its numerous theories: the classification of governments, the political influence of climate, and the most important one, the theory of the separation of powers. Montesquieu argued that in the state that most effectively promotes liberty, the Legislative Executive and Judicial powers must be confided to different individuals or bodies acting independently. This idea was soon to become central to the Constitution of the United States.