Question

For what two reasons were the state constitutions very similar?

a) The colonial governments had been influenced by each other over the years.
b) The governments all began with the rules of British parliament.
c) The Founding Fathers were very familiar with the work of Hobbes, Locke, and Montesquieu.
d) The earliest settlers set the rules for the states to follow and they were never changed.
e) All governments are basically the same no matter where anyone goes.

Answer 1

State constitutions were similar due to the mutual influence of colonial governments and the Founding Fathers' familiarity with Enlightenment thinkers, leading to the creation of republican governments with principles of mixed government and natural rights.

Step-by-step explanation:

The state constitutions were very similar for two primary reasons: a) The colonial governments had been influenced by each other over the years, leading to a natural homogenization of political thought and practice, and c) The Founding Fathers were deeply familiar with the work of Enlightenment thinkers like Hobbes, Locke, and Montesquieu, who all emphasized the importance of a government based on the consent of the governed and the protection of natural rights.

The colonial experiences and the influence of Enlightenment thinkers shaped the process of constitution-making during the Revolutionary Era. Post-independence, there was a common agreement on creating republican governments with checks and balances, which reflected both past legislative experiences under British colonialism and the modern political philosophy that inspired the revolution. While the exact forms and provisions varied among the states, these two influences were central in shaping the development of state constitutions.