Final answer:
Charles de Montesquieu was a French enlightenment writer who advocated for a separation of powers in government to maintain political liberty.
Step-by-step explanation:
Charles de Montesquieu, also known as Baron de Montesquieu, was a French enlightenment writer who advocated for a separation of powers in government. In his book The Spirit of the Laws, he argued that political liberty could only be maintained if the executive, legislative, and judicial functions of government were assigned to different bodies. By doing so, each branch could act as a check on the others, preventing any one branch from becoming too powerful. Montesquieu's philosophy greatly influenced the Founding Fathers of the United States and played a role in shaping the US Constitution.