Question

What were the Founding Fathers trying to create when they divided powers between the judicial, legislative, and executive branches?

Answer 1

They were trying to create a system of checks and balances to prevent tyranny

Answer 2

The founding fathers were trying to create a system to counter centralized power with checks and balances. Existing states constitutions had already separated powers among legislative, executive and judicial branches. But even worrying about royal tyranny, most of the founding fathers also feared rule by the people and supported various mechanisms to check the possible tyrannies of majority rule. They worried that majorities might tyrannize minorities. Some delegates displayed a thumping disdain for any democratizing of the political system.