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Reasons the founding fathers divided government

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1. What were the reasons America's forefathers divided the government into the legislative, judicial, and presidential branches? How does this benefit the three branches?

The idea that power can be abused if monopolized by one individual is not a new idea. Ancient history is replete with examples of absolute rulers who terrorized neighboring societies as well as their own people. The Roman Caesars drove the Roman Empire to ruin through their megalomania and abuse of power. Louis XIV and Louis XVI of France provided a similarly disastrous leadership style in France. Lord Acton, famed British historian and moralist wrote the following in a letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton in 1887, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men." William Pitt served as the British Prime Minister from 1766 to 1778. The dissatisfaction and resentment in the American colonies was building and would lead the Patriot leaders to embrace open rebellion against England in 1776. In 1770 William Pitt, in a speech before the House of Commons, made the following insightful quote. "Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it." (McClellan, 2000)

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This solution discusses the division of government into the legislative, judicial and executive branches. Why did the founding fathers make this division, what obstacles did they face, how did federal and state's rights impact the decision? Over 950 words of original text along with links to informative websites for further research.

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1. What were the reasons America's forefathers divided the government into the legislative, judicial, and presidential branches? How does this benefit the three branches?

The idea that power can be abused if monopolized by one individual is not a new idea. Ancient history is replete with examples of absolute rulers who terrorized neighboring societies as well as their own people. The Roman Caesars drove the Roman Empire to ruin through their megalomania and abuse of power. Louis XIV and Louis XVI of France provided a similarly disastrous leadership style in France. Lord Acton, famed British historian and moralist wrote the following in a letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton in 1887, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men." William Pitt served as the British Prime Minister from 1766 to 1778. The dissatisfaction and resentment in the American colonies was building and would lead the Patriot leaders to embrace open rebellion against England in 1776. In 1770 William Pitt, in a speech before the House of Commons, made the following insightful quote. "Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it." (McClellan, 2000)

The colonists had experienced enough madness and corruption under King George III of England. Having won their freedom by 1781 they set about establishing a government that would provide for the national defense of the new nation while at the same time guaranteeing the public freedoms that had been so brashly trampled on by the British king. The way they sought to do this was by ...

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