Summary:
American democracy and government is a collaboration of both new liberal concpets and older ideas molded together to suit modern needs. A study of the American democratic system reveals the influence of the ancient Greeks, the Roman Republic, and the English, as well as the experiences of the American colonists.
Steven EdwardsPadilla
U.S. History 11 300Per. 2
America is a country whose emergence is contributed to many sources. More specifically, the American form of Democracy (Greek word for "rule by the people", Democracies are generally characterized by citizen votes and assemblies) holds its roots in the governments of multiple predecessors. From English colonial rule to the governments of Greece and Rome, The United States owes it's birth as a country to many areas of influence.
The Ancient Greeks belonged to a very prosperous and enlightened society. It was the Greeks who are credited with the first major government to put the power of a nation in the hands of the average citizen. Voting, political assembly, and official citizenship are all concepts that can be traced back to Classical Grecian ideas. These concepts were adopted by the Founders of America because of their opposition to tyranny and exploitation of the average citizen. In todays America, the right to vote is commonly conceived as an American brainchild, despite the fact the the Greeks utilized voting millenia before. The concept of offical Citizenship was also idealized by the Greeks. This allowed certain rights and freedoms to all those who fell under the realm of Greek society. Although American Democracy is defined as a Representitive Democracy, that is to say citizens elect those who make decisions, we owe a great deal to Greek ideas and concepts.
The age in Roman history after the monarchy is noted as the Roman Republic. This was a time when the City of Rome would truly come into it's own, and emerge as Europes sole superpower. Borrowing ideas from the Greeks (ie. citizenship), the Romans crafted a finely tuned (though eventually ill-fated) government instituation. A main feature of the Roman Republic was the Senate. This was composed of two political parties, and held great power in the Roman world. The American Senate comes to us from the Roman concept. Another core feature of the Roman Republic was the political veto. Two Consuls, who were at the head of Senatorial actions, were able to veto one anothers decisions if they saw fit. This prevented either of them from gaining too much power, and thus turning Rome into a Dictatorship. The Roman Republic also saw one of the first successful examples of political terms. The Romans observed two types of terms for most of their highranking officials: Collegial (which was the rule of two men in the same position, as in the example of Consul) and Annualy (the observation of a one year term). This seems to be an early form of limitation of government, though many times the people of Rome held menial influence on the political stage. In any event, the Roman Republic continues to impact modern America's government today.
Another field of influence for American Democracy lies in the English. After fuedal times and during the enlightenment, the common man sought more and more personal freedoms. English rule passed the English Bill of Rights in 1689, a similar declaration of which can be found in the American Bill of Rights. The English were also the first superpower to institute rule by Parliament. Parliament is a form of legislature in which power is distributed between two "Houses" (House of Commons and the House of Lords). The American system of Checks and Balances between three seperate institutions (Judiciary, Executive and Legislative) owes it's existence primarily to the English Parliament. Over the centuries, English influence on American government has been great, and today these influences can still be seen in everyday American life.
Perhaps the most poignant example of rebellion throughout modern history, The American Revolution stands as a great source of pride for most American citizens. The Colonial Experiences encountered by early American citizens before the revolution have impacted contemporary United States Government. For example, The Virginia House of Burgesses was the first instance of representitive democracy in the New World. It involved a form of Congress, with 2 representitive politicians per state. Smaller towns and outposts held town meetings, in which a fairly primitive form of Congress was utilized. As the Colonial sense of identity grew, so did the dissent between the Colonies and Great Britain. In an effort to display it's superiority, Britain enacted several exploitative acts upon the colonists. This is perhaps the most important action in regards to the formation of American government. American forefathers attempted to quell any chance of a return of tyrannical rule in the New World by placing the power of government in the hands of the average person (The Continental Congress/Articles of Confederation), and although the first attempts failed at producing an acceptable government, American rule was refined until it finally resembled that which is in effect today.
As it can be seen, the American Democratic system is not purely American. It has been taken (for a lack of a better word) from previous nations and societies. American government is a collage, a collaboration of both new liberal concpets and older ideas that have been molded to suit modern needs. America government in short, is not a singly rooted statute. Rather, it holds it's beginings in multiple locations throughout the course of history.
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