Final answer:
The influence of Enlightenment ideas on state constitutions is best exemplified by the separation of powers, where constitutions included several branches of government, a reflection of Montesquieu's ideas and the broader Enlightenment principles of government by consent and individual liberty.
Step-by-step explanation:
A good example of the influence of Enlightenment ideas on state constitutions is B. Separation of powers- state constitutions had several branches of government. This concept is a direct reflection of the Enlightenment thinker Montesquieu's ideas on the separation of governmental powers to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. Moreover, the establishment of republican governments that were based on the consent of the governed and the securing of people's liberties from abuse by the state were integral Enlightenment principles applied in the state constitutions.
Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke argued for the principle of the social contract, where the government lacked authority in the realm of individual conscience. This principle influenced the American colonies and is reflected in the structure and ideologies that the framers of the state constitutions used. The emphasis on limiting government power, ensuring representation, and protecting individual freedoms can be seen as a direct influence of these Enlightenment ideas.