Voltaire François-Marie Arouet, known as
Voltaire (1694-1778) was an impas.
sioned poet, historian, essayist, and philosopher who wrote with cutting sarcasm and sharp wit. Voltaire was sent to the Bastille prison twice due to his criticism of French authorities and was eventually banned from
Paris. When he was able to return to France, he wrote About political
and religious freedom. Voltaire spent his life fighting enemies of freedom, such as ignorance superstition and
intolerance.

QUESTION:

What did Voltaire
attack in his writings?

Montesquieu
Bom to wealth, Charles Louis de
Secondat (1689-1755) inherited the
title Baron de Montesquieu from his uncle. Like many other refonners, he did not let his privileged status keep him from becoming a voice for democracy,
His first book titled Persian Letters ridiculed the French government and social classes. In his work published in 1748, The Spirit of the Laws, he advanced the idea of separation of powersma
foundation of modem democracy

QUESTION:

What did Montesquieu think was
necessary to protect liberty?