Final answer:
Separation of powers is the division of a government into branches with distinct powers to prevent concentration of power, inspired by thinkers like John Locke and Montesquieu.
Step-by-step explanation:
Separation of powers refers to the concept of dividing a government into distinct branches, each with separate and independent powers and areas of responsibility. This system is designed to prevent any one branch from exercising the core functions of another, thereby keeping a balance and preventing the concentration of power. The colonists took this idea primarily from John Locke, an English philosopher who influenced American political beliefs about government, and Montesquieu, who argued for a constitutional system with a division of powers to preserve liberty and maintain a system of checks and balances.