Final answer:
The branches of the U.S. government arise from Montesquieu's separation of powers, which was incorporated by Madison into the Constitution.
Step-by-step explanation:
The creation of the different branches of the United States government can indeed be traced back to the Enlightenment ideas, particularly those of Baron de Montesquieu. Montesquieu's concept of the separation of powers was implemented in the US Constitution by the Founding Fathers, notably by James Madison, who is often referred to as the "Father of the Constitution". Montesquieu argued that in order for political liberty to be maintained, the power of government needed to be separated into three distinct branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. This separation of powers ensures that no one branch can become too powerful, a structure upheld in the checks and balances system of the US government.
Therefore, the correct trace for the existence of different branches of the United States government is from Montesquieu to Madison, since it was Montesquieu who proposed this idea, and Madison who played a key role in incorporating it into the US Constitution.