Final answer:
The writing of the U.S. Constitution was influenced by the causes of the American Revolution, Enlightenment thought, and the practical experiences of the new American states. Philosophers like Montesquieu and pamphlets like Thomas Paine's Common Sense guided the Founding Fathers in asserting the need for a republican government. The shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation and the ideas from the Iroquois Confederacy also played a role in the shaping of the Constitution.
Step-by-step explanation:
Influences on the Writing of the U.S. Constitution
The writing of the U.S. Constitution was deeply influenced by the causes of the American Revolution. Enlightenment thinkers like Montesquieu provided the philosophical foundation with their work on the separation of powers. John Adams and other revolutionary leaders, drawing upon these Enlightenment ideas, urged for the creation of state constitutions that reflected republican values. Enlightenment principles also shaped the Declaration of Independence, crafted by visionary Founding Fathers like Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin.
During the development of the federal Constitution, after recognizing the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, leaders sought to create a stronger union. The Constitution incorporated democratic principles, some of which were admired and influenced by the Iroquois Confederacy's political system. Thomas Paine's Common Sense rallied colonists by critiquing the British monarchy and highlighting the need for self-governance, further shaping revolutionary thought. Slavery was a contentious issue that also had to be addressed in the framing of the Constitution.
In short, the Constitution represented not only the ideals of American independence but also the practical experience and needs of the newly formed states. The state constitutions revealed both the aspiration for democracy and the inherent challenges of transitioning from colonies under British rule to a united, self-governing nation.