The Spirit of Laws—published after twenty years of labour—had a profound influence on the development of our liberal political theory. This book, initially published anonymously, was banned by the Catholic Church and listed in 1751 on the Index of Prohibited Works. It was a fresh plea for democracy and the division of the executive, legislative, and judiciary powers. Montesquieu condemned slavery and torture, and advocated gentler treatment of criminals, tolerance of religious belief, and freedom of worship. He had a strong influence on the framers of the US Constitution. With his thorough comparative review of cultures and political systems, Montesquieu built up the base for modern political sociology and anthropology.