Development Of Democracy Essay
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Development of Democracy
There have been many events in history that led to the development of American democracy. Events that took place in Europe and events that took place in colonial America. In this essay I will explain how, self government and government by the consent of the governed, government based on a written document, and religious freedom played an important role in shaping America's democracy.
When the first settlers came to America, self government and government by the consent of the governed was the way they kept some kind of law and order in the settlements. The people of the community voted on certain issues, by the raising of hands. If the majority of the hands were raised the situation will be acted upon, if not enough hands were raised it would be denied and nothing will happen. This was the case with the fist settlement at Jamestown. The joint-stock company, known as the Virginia Company, received a charter from King James I to settle in the New World. This Charter was very significant. "It guaranteed to the oversea settlers the same rights of Englishmen that they would have enjoyed if they had stayed at home. This precious boon was gradually extended to the other English colonies and became a foundation stone of Americans liberties."(Thomas A. Bailey and David M. Kennedy, The American Pageant. (New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1999). pg.28.
This self-government was adopted by many settlements in pre-colonial America. In the new Connecticut River colony, the people there drafted a document known as the "Fundamental Orders". It was later known to be a modern constitution for that state. This document stated an establish regime democratically controlled by the "substantial" citizens. This kind of effect was happening everywhere
The ultimate foundation that established democracy in America was when The London Company granted Virginia the right to govern its own people. The London Company told Virginians to set up or create their own assembly or some kind of legislature, thus introducing the House of Burgesses. This legislature was the first of many different kinds of assembles to be set up by American colonies to promote the call of democracy. Having established this kind of assembly first, Virginia soon became a very political voice for democracy and will produce the first few presidents of the United States.
The second event that soundly establishes America's democracy was a government based on written documents. In London, England and other countries around the world at this time, monarchy was the primary way of ruling. In a monarchy the rulers' voice is the last word on an issue. Remember that Americas democracy system was an experiment when it first began. The Greeks tried a democracy and failed and the Romans also tried a democracy and failed. The Americans had a big task ahead of them to prove that democracy does work.
Once the initial government was founded, written documents was produce to enforce its establishment. The Articles of Confederation was the first of many documents to do such things. This was the first document to put together all thirteen colonies under one nation. The first true sign that a democracy was slowly but surely growing. They were linked together really under one base, and that was foreign affairs. Most of the major political issues were dealt with differently in each state, except in land laws, which the Articles did exceptionally well. Even though the Articles of Confederation failed as a U.S. Constitution it created the foundation of the new U.S. Constitution that exist today.
Another document that effectively contributed to Americas...
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