How did the ideas of Locke Montesquieu Rousseau Voltaire and Beccaries influence the founding fathers?

Answer 1

The pen name "Voltaire" was only a figure to protect François-Marie Arouet from government. If you are talking about American Found Fathers, then this would have no influence. Americans has the protection of an ocean in between them and Britain. There was no need to have a pen name.

The Founding Fathers did use pen names when writing on public topics (John Adams used two, one being "Novanglus" in example). The reason for this was twofold one, it allowed peers to openly support either side of a contentious issue, or in the aforementioned John Adams instance, both sides. Dissenters and loyalists alike used this forum, it created an open forum free from retaliation against the writer, such as in Voltaire's case- reason number two.

While prosecutions for seditious libel were rare, there are definite cases of prosecution of colonialists for such sedition. Even though the Atlantic may have acted as a strong buffer against recoil from the crown, there was a strong Tory government in the colonies; even criticizing the colonial governor or magistrate could be bring strong punishment.

In 1735, John Peter Zenger was charged with libelous sedition for an article in his paper, the New York Weekly Journal, for daring to criticize the royal governor. Even though the grand jury refused to indict him, so they set an artificially high bail, which he could not afford, and he thus spent nearly a year in jail awaiting trial. Had it not been for the outstanding defense, Zenger most assuredly would have received further punishment; the judge refused either plea from the defense. Fortunately the case was compelling enough for the grand jury to overrule the judge and declare Zenger not guilty.

More frequent than common law prosecution were "assemblies" were formed to bring dissenters before an elected body and try them from anything from "treasonable utterances" to libel charges.

Long answer made short, yes, many Founder's wrote with pen names, many of them had several. Examples include Ben Franklin who wrote as a widow named "Silence Dogood", Alexander Hamilton used "Publius", and, of course, John Adams and "Novanglus".

As to Voltaire the person, and his impact upon the Founders as thinkers, his political philosophies helped them further their understanding of the role of government and the rights of the people. If you look back on the Federalist Papers, and other letters written between many of the Continental Congress and Constitutional Convention, you will find direct references to him and his works.

Zengler Case source: http://law.jrank.org/pages/2021/Sedition-Domestic-Terrorism-American-colonial-experience.html

Answer 2

The ideas of Locke influenced the founding fathers' belief in natural rights and the social contract. Montesquieu's ideas on separation of powers influenced the structure of the American government. Rousseau's ideas on popular sovereignty and democracy influenced the concept of self-government. Voltaire's advocacy for religious tolerance influenced the idea of freedom of religion. Beccaria's ideas on criminal justice and rights of the accused influenced the development of the Bill of Rights.