Final answer:
The foundation of the U.S. government has its roots in the Enlightenment period philosophies and Judeo-Christian teachings. The Enlightenment provided the intellectual framework for the creation of the nation's key documents and principles. Despite America's diverse population, these Enlightenment-inspired values remain central to American political life.
Step-by-step explanation:
The foundational roots of the United States government are deeply embedded in the philosophies developed primarily during the Enlightenment period, as well as Judeo-Christian teachings. The 17th and 18th centuries were marked by the proliferation of Enlightenment thought, which played a critical role in shaping the new nation. The Enlightenment philosophes, such as John Locke, Voltaire, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, introduced ideas like the separation of powers, social contracts, and the notion that governments should be based on the consent of the governed - all of which greatly influenced the American Founding Fathers.
The Enlightenment era's emphasis on reason, science, and the rights of individuals provided a fertile intellectual landscape for the United States' founding documents, such as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, to flourish. These documents and the federal system of government they created embody the Enlightenment ideals of liberty, democracy, and justice that continue to serve as the bedrock of American political culture. The Enlightenment left an indelible mark on the conception of American government and the principles upon which it stands.
Despite the diverse origins of America's population at the time of founding and the even more diverse nature of today's American society, there remains a shared commitment to upholding the Enlightenment-inspired values of life, liberty, property, the pursuit of happiness, the common good, justice, and equality as enshrined in the nation's founding documents. These values, which were radical in the context of the 18th century, now serve as a common foundation on which Americans, despite their differences, agree should be protected from an authoritarian government.