The great minds of the Enlightenment, including those of Voltaire, Locke, and Montesquieu, dramatically influenced how the Founding Fathers approached government. The most influential individuals which brought about American rebellion and eventually revolution are discussed here.

Others, such as Voltaire and Montesquieu, were influential in the shaping of American government, but did not exercise their great influence on the decision to rebel. For general education's sake - Voltaire was the founder of the Diest movement and helped generate the belief in a separation between church and state. Montesquieu advocated the separation of powers. It is through his writings that the forefathers created a system of checks-and-balances.