The American colonies were, in terms of government, the Democratic colonials. The British government was more democratic in that it allowed for free and fair elections, but the colonies were not governed by the same principles.
Democratic principles were more prevalent in the colonies than they were in London, and they saw themselves as more legitimate governments than the king-emperor of England. This was a welcome change to many people at the time.
At the time, there was some debate over whether or not a monarch ruled over an independent nation with its own government. Was it better for them to have a government than to just be onEnlarge dieresesdieresesdieresesesesese ofEnglandaspronounforking?Thisisaneedforaforedetermininganyparticularcountryorstate,becauseofthedebateoverwhetherornotanindependentnation requires a ruler or not.
This article will discuss some of the differences between the American and British governments, and how Democratic ideas played a role in both.
Contents:
Political participation
In the 1760s and 70s, many in the British upper class were involved in politics. This was especially the case during elections, when they would go to their homes and vote.
This was not for political influence, but rather to see who their candidate was and support him or her. Even though this was not voting, it was still important to show support for the government.
To be elected as a politician in Britain, you had to win a lot of votes. This is why there were strict rules on how many people you could vote for and how many you could put into your partylist.
Voting
Most Americans don’t know that the American colonies were the first country in the world to allow voting, and many aren’t sure when exactly they got the chance to vote.
In what ways were the American Colonies Democratic? As you’ll read below, a few things played a role in making voting easier for your average person.
First, while you could go to a polling place, you had to do so in person or through a poll book. This was more convenient for those who couldn’t make it to a center of government activity, like the house of worship where elections were held regularly.
Then, there was adopted legislation that set voter registration dates and deadlines.
Elite influence
One of the most noticeable features of the American colonial period was the presence of an elite who wielded considerable influence.
This elite consisted of merchants, financiers, politicians, and religious leaders who enjoyed wielding power. Some members of this elite played a role in governing their colonies and were sometimes referred to as town-stewards or governors.
While no one personified the government in every colony, there was a general sense of independence that developed during this time. This feeling was fueled by news from England about how much power the crown had, and how little people were allowed to have.
This sense of independence grew with each passing year as people realized they could achieve more than if they joined an established group. This development is what contributed to the growth of separate political cultures in America.
Democratic practices
Democratic practices refers to policies and laws that were used in the colonies. While most of them were anti-monarchist, there were a few that favored the British monarch.
Democratic practices include legislative elections, legislation passed through vote rather than committee process, and freedom of speech and assembly.
Although these liberties were not completely free from British rule, they applied more heavily in the American colonies than they did back in Great Britain.
While these liberties might not seem like big deals today, they had a huge impact on American history. For example, if one candidate did not receive a sufficient amount of votes, then another candidate would be elected by the legislature.
This was very important because when you have elections, you have representatives who vote how they are supposed to vote! If you didn’t get your vote counted, then someone else got it because of this democratic system.
Limited power of elites
Another important difference between America and Europe was the limited power of elites. America was much more diverse than Europe, and this diversity gave rise to a lot of wealth and privilege.
This diversity also led to many different ideas and values, which created plenty of opportunity for confrontation and conflict. This is not exactly true in Europe, where there is more uniformity in values.
While America was not very democratic at its roots, compared to other European countries, it became so after its colonies declared themselves independent. This development happened over a long period of time, as the colonies first struggled with deciding how to be independent.
In the end, they chose democracy over any other form of government. This was definitely an achievement by the later American Founders, who wanted a more authoritarian government for their country.
Expansion of rights
One of the most noticeable ways that the American colonies were Democratic was in expanding rights for people. The first two centuries of human history were one where people were oppressed and/or executed for small violations of rights.
After the Revolutionary War, Congress passed the Constitution, which established a government and gave people property rights, freedom of speech and religion, and other rights.
During this time, there was a lot of discussion about what rights individuals should have and how much they should have them. In fact, at one point, there were seven different personhood bills circulating around Congress!
It’s not just Congress that passed personhood bills; voters did as well. Two dozen U.S. states passed personhood measures between 2005 and 2015, showing just how widespread the issue is.
Expansion of freedom of speech
One of the most notable changes brought about by the American Revolution was the increased freedom of speech. Before the war, criticism of the British regime was heavily censored, with many voices being silenced for their political beliefs.
While this did not drastically change anyone’s minds, it was an important step in strengthening democracy in Britain. After this war, more countries began to realize how valuable free speech is and how important it is to have a functioning democracy.
Many people were now inspired to speak their mind and join a movement for political change. This influenced others to decide whether or not they wanted to follow what someone was saying, which can be dangerous if people do not have enough proof that it is true.
Expansion of freedom of the press
The American colonies were very accepting of a liberal press. In fact, in some cases, the freedom of the press came at a high cost to the people living there.
The colonists were very concerned about corruption and abusive practices by the news media. In fact, it was cited as one of the reasons that colonial legislatures created independent newspapers to report news and politics about their state governments.
These early newspapers reported political events such as elections and speeches by public officials, all without the interference of large media corporations at that time. As more time passed, these newspapers developed power and influence as they began to wield influence on politicians and the public.
This led to increased pressure on government officials to properly address issues facing their constituents, which led to more democratic processes.