Final answer:
John Locke's influence on the founding of the United States is significant, with his ideas on consent of the governed and separated powers forming the backbone of the U.S. Constitution. The Constitution, embodying these Enlightenment principles and providing a system of checks and balances, is arguably the most important document influencing the American government. Additionally, the idea of the Constitution as a 'living document' represents its capacity to evolve with society.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine which document or Enlightenment Thinker has had the most influence on our system of government, it is particularly important to consider the work of John Locke. Locke's philosophies on the nature of government, including the idea that governance should be based on the consent of the governed and his advocacy for a government with separated powers, have had a profound influence on the founders of the United States.
Locke's principles are embedded throughout the United States Constitution, alongside ideas from other Enlightenment thinkers and historical documents. It's this foundational framework for a government that relies on a system of checks and balances and the protection of individual rights that has shaped U.S. governance.
While the Declaration of Independence is indeed a vital document as it proclaimed the colonies' separation from British rule, the Constitution is the governing document that provides the functional basis for the United States government. It is therefore often viewed as the most important document in U.S. political history, codifying Locke's and other thinkers' ideas into a system of government that was groundbreaking at the time and remains in effect to this day.
The concept that the Constitution is a 'living document' speaks to its ability to be interpreted and amended to address changing societal needs and values. This adaptability is viewed as a strength in the governance of the nation, allowing for continuity but also for necessary evolution.