Essay Sample on Creating a Successful Democracy: Elements & Examples

Introduction

What are the elements of a successful democratic country? This is the question that most citizens ask themselves. In a democracy, some of the elements that can make a country democratic include freedom of speech, political expression, press, and majority rule. Before the American Revolution, British North American colonies ruled American colonies. The rule had both democratic and undemocratic features. Clark, Hewit, Rozenzweig, Lichttenstein, Brown, and Jafee (2007) asserted that between 1765 and 1783, American nationalists with assistance from France defeated the British in the American Revolution War thereby gaining independence from Britain. The American Revolution changed America regarding its political and social aspects. In 1776, the U.S. Declaration of Independence and the Constitution ratified in 1787etablished a new and independent nation, which was referred to as the world's first contemporary democracy (Clark et al., 2007). The purpose of this essay is to discuss the extent of democracy before and after the American Revolution.

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Democracy refers to a system of government where citizens have the freedom to take part in the proposal and formation of laws. It consists of sovereignty, autonomy, and equality. Both British North American colonies and the new post-revolutionary American States had democratic and undemocratic features. For example, in the British North American colonies, one of the democratic features was that British subjects gave American colonies political liberty. According to the chapter, colonies the shared natural liberties of British subjects. The British policy permitted unlimited immigration, which enabled some colonies to have political institutions and ruling groups. On the contrary, the undemocratic features of the British North American colonies included the lack of self-government. In Chapter 4, Clark et al. (2007) indicated that American colonies struggled with the right to self-government since the British imposed policies that were designed to prevent a revolt and those that favored their trade. Another undemocratic feature is that French colonies lacked political independence and autonomy (Clark et al., 2007). During the 1750s and 1760s, conflict and questions of rights, freedom, and self-government arose because of British control (Clark et al., 2007). Based on the evidence, the British North American colonies were just societies with democratic features but failed to practice democracy. Furthermore, one of the democratic features of the new post-revolutionary American States was equality. In Chapter 5 Clark et al. (2007) indicated that when building the republic, the Declaration of Independence formed unity among the elite, artisans, slaves, laborers, professional men, and merchants. Additionally, another democratic feature was that of sovereignty. Supporters of the revolution agreed that America should have a sovereign authority of o monarch on the consent of those governed (Clark et al., 2007). Also, the post-revolutionary American States formed laws by involving the people (Clark et al., 2007). On the other hand, regarding undemocratic features of the new post-revolutionary American States, Clark et al. (2007) indicated that John Adams of Massachusetts had a more conservative vision of government. States like Virginia, Massachusetts, Maryland, and New York formed governments similar to Adam's views as their constitution preserved political control and created a Senate that protected property and not people (Clark et al., 2007). The new, post-revolutionary American States can be described as a democratic society because it had all its elements.

It can be argued that the American society at large and the American political system in specific was undemocratic before and after the revolution. For instance, before the revolution, one event that proved the American political system was undemocratic was the Navigation Acts in the 17th century (Clark et al., 2007). In Chapter 4, Clark et al. (2007) stated that the British formed laws that only served their interests. This goes against the democratic element of sovereignty. For example, in the 18th century, the British formulated regulations that attempted to ensure colonial manufactured goods did not compete with those that the British produced (Clark et al., 2007). The British feared growing prosperity in American colonies since the demand for their products such as fish, agricultural products, and ship was high (Clark et al., 2007). The Navigation Act enriched Britain up to date in contemporary society. On the other hand, after the revolution, one event that proved the American political system was undemocratic was the consolidation of slavery in the south 1790-1836 as outlined in chapter 6 (Clark et al., 2007). In Chapter 5, Clark et al., (2007) mentioned that after the revolution, questions of equality and human rights were raised in regard to slavery. White colonialists considered themselves freeborn fighters and isolated themselves from slaves. To the white colonialists, having people as property was a common way of life (Clark et al., 2007). Some slave owners such as Jefferson and Washington saw that slavery was a problem they could not resolve (Clark et al., 2007). In the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson included a clause condemning the slave trade but other members of Congress saw it as humiliating hypocrisy. The tolerance of slavery even after the American Revolution showed how states were still undemocratic by enabling inequality across races. In contemporary society, racism, which was brought by slavery is still existent.

It can be argued that the American society at large and the American political system in specific was democratic before and after the revolution. For example, before the revolution, one event that made the political system democratic was the French and Indian War. In Chapter 4, Clark et al. (2007) stated that France and India fought for the empire. The consequence of the war was that it resulted in the decline in demand for military goods and services as well as it encouraged British political interests in the colonies. Seemingly, the battles between France and India were the driving force for inspiring ideals that resulted in democracy in the New World. As per Chapter 5, the British gave American colonies political liberty (Clark et al., 2007). On the other hand, after the revolution, an event that made the American political system democratic was the Native Americans and War on the Frontier in 1775 (Clark et al., 2007). According to the Chapter, the war broke from the West where Native Americans contested for settled regions (Clark et al., 2007). The patriots wanted to dislodge British frontier garrison and seize land that they were denied access (Clark et al., 2007). Both Americans and Indians sought alliance from Indians (Clark et al., 2007). Patriots attacked Indian settlements across the frontier and attacked Cherokees and Creeks to prevent them from helping the British. Eventually, American Natives gained the lands and formed alliances against American Incursions. The war resulted in equal opportunity in Native Americans in contemporary society.

Conclusion

Overall, the American Revolution was a major historic event. It began with small demands such as autonomy that later grew before and during the revolution. This paper, which discussed the extent of democracy before and after the American Revolution draws several conclusions. For instance, Americans experienced some forms of freedom such as equality and political autonomy. The British North American colonies ensured that their rule was aristocratic. After the revolution, America achieved democracy. Its merit was that every citizen's rights and interests were safeguarded under the constitution. Besides, democracy is advantageous because it neutralizes the essential selfish interest tendencies. On the contrary, in the undemocratic rule by the British colonies, its advantage was that it created a well-organized chain of command. The Revolution freed colonists from British rule and gave rise to the age of democracy. Nevertheless, the question of how revolutionary the American revolution was remains unsolved. What is known is that Americans managed progress from dependent colonies to independent states and from a monarchy to republic.

Reference

Clark, C., Hewit, N.A., Rozenzweig, R., Lichttenstein, N., Brown, J., & Jafee, D. (2007). Who Built America? Vol. 1: Working People and the Nation's History. 3rd Edition. New York, NY: Bedford.