Friday, August 9, 2019
I want to you to write about democracy in the USA Essay
I want to you to write about democracy in the USA - Essay Example In addition, they want governmental framework that will safeguard liberty and ensure the rule of law prevails over the current will of the people, a circumstance which would be termed a true democracy. The system of government in the U.S. is often called a democracy which is misleading and does not represent the true ideals of the country. The aspect of a republic, one that makes the system historically significant, is that is actually in opposition of a true democracy where the will of the majority would infringe upon the rights of the minority. The American Revolution was fought for three main reasons. The elite class sought self-governance, separate from Britain, so they could control the colonies themselves in order to further their self interests. They also wanted to keep slavery and take more land from the Native Americans. Britain was leaning toward abolishing slavery and had outlawed seizing land. George Washington is a prime example of those moneyed elite. He owned hundreds of slaves and was a land speculator. The Founding Fathersââ¬â¢ goals were not as altruistic as many history books describe them. However, they needed the common man to fight the war so they were forced to cede some power to them in the form of democratic principles. Neither the Constitution nor Declaration of Independence contains the word democracy. In fact the Founders often spoke out against the concept. Thomas Jefferson spoke of the ââ¬Å"tyranny of the majority.â⬠A Massachusetts Delegate to the Continental Congress, Elbridge Gerry, cautioned against an ââ¬Å"excesses of democracy.â⬠Future first Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, who advocated a restricted monarchy, declared that the people ââ¬Å"seldom judge or determine right.â⬠Virginia Governor Edmund Randolph wanted a government that would ââ¬Å"restrain the fury of democracy.â⬠(Marriott, 2003). It was obvious to the Founders that the majority would vote for whatever it
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