Sources
The Americans closely followed English and Scottish political ideas, as well as some French thinkers such as Montesquieu. They paid little attention to Voltaire or Rousseau or to German theorists. John Locke was especially influential. In addition the Americans paid very close attention to the ideas of the "country party" in England, which attacked the Court party that was in power. From the Country Party the Americans picked up republicanism, which became a major component of American political values.
Read more about this topic: American Enlightenment
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