Final answer:
Baron de Montesquieu is credited with the idea of separating government power into three branches, which influenced the United States Constitution and its system of checks and balances.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Enlightenment thinker credited with creating the framework for the three branches of government used in America is Baron de Montesquieu. Montesquieu advocated for the separation of powers into executive, legislative, and judicial branches, a system that was embraced by the framers of the United States Constitution.
The Founding Fathers, including Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and James Madison, were inspired by the ideas of liberty, equality, and justice, which were central themes during the Enlightenment period.
The United States Constitution incorporated these principles, acknowledging the concept that political power comes from the consent of the governed and establishing a system of checks and balances to ensure no single branch could dominate the others.