Final answer:
The founding fathers were primarily attracted to Montesquieu's theory on the division of government powers, which inspired the separation of powers in the U.S. Constitution to protect political liberty and prevent tyranny.
Step-by-step explanation:
The founding fathers were most attracted to Montesquieu’s theory on the division of government powers, which is evident in the adoption of the separation of powers in the United States Constitution. Montesquieu advocated for a constitutional system that emphasized political liberty through the balance and separation of powers, suggesting that government be divided into distinct branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.
This structure was intended to prevent any one branch from overreaching and to maintain political liberty and the rule of law. The founding fathers were influenced by Montesquieu's work as well as by other Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke, and they sought to create a system that protected individual liberties while preventing the concentration of power as had been experienced under a monarchy.