Democracy in America
The concept of democracy was first introduced in ancient Greece as a system of government allowing citizens to make decisions directly through a fully participatory decision-making process. Today, it has been adopted by many countries in different forms and varieties. Democracy in America has been shaped by its historical roots, world events, public opinion and the actions of the federal government.
The roots of democracy in America can be found in Ancient Greece, the Magna Carta, colonial America and the Revolutionary War. The Ancient Greeks were among the first societies to practice democracy, giving each man a say in political decisions. Later, the Magna Carta granted common peoples rights and spelled out the first rudimentary form of democracy in England. In colonial America, the citizens still functioned under a monarchy, but slowly adopted many democratic ideals, such as voting and taxation. Eventually, the Revolutionary War led to the birth of a new country, the United States of America, with a government based on democratic principles.
The impact of world events played an important role in the development ofdemocracy in America. In 1787 the Founding Fathers of America wrote the Constitution, which marked the start of a new system of government that aimed to provide more freedoms and rights to the citizens. The Civil War in the 1860s further strengthened democracy in America. During this traumatic period, America fought to abolish slavery, granting the rights of self-determination and the right to vote to African Americans. The civil war also saw the adoption of the Thirteenth Amendment, which prohibited any form of slavery in the United States.
Public opinion has always played an important role in shaping the future of democracy in America. The most notable example of this is the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932. His policies, inspired by what had been dubbed the “New Deal”, aimed to alleviate the effects of the Great Depression and reform the banking system. In particular, the New Deal implemented several measures to protect the rights of labor unions, such as making it illegal for employers to interfere with collective bargaining. The success of Roosevelt’s policies secured his election to a third term, in which he established various social reforms that are still in place to this day.
The actions of the federal government have also had a profound influence on the evolution of democracy in America. Following in the footsteps of Roosevelt, Presidents such as Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon and Jimmy Carter implemented reforms that further established the ideas of equality and justice, such as the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act. The introduction of these acts have had a lasting impact, removing institutionalized racial prejudice and providing voting rights to African Americans.
Today, democracy in America continues to evolve and change with the times. The open debate of ideas, the power of the vote and the freedom of expression are fundamental to our democratic way of life. As citizens, it is each of our obligations to take part in the democratic process to ensure the preservation and progress of our nation.
