The Americans are deeply divided, within themselves and among themselves on the democracy subject. Democracy is sometimes taken to be the highest value in America (Miller, 1991), but at other times, democracy is construed to be a nightmare in the nation. Pure and untainted democracy is said to lead to persecution of minority communities by the majority. Essentially, democracy is responsible for holding of prayers in schools, banning and labeling of records and books, emergence of restrictions on drugs, abortion, sex, and alcohol. Additionally, democracy has been responsible for fueling of racial segregation and unwarranted discrimination. On the other hand, many Americans cherish democratic ideals despite the radical elements it contains. This democratic ideal of a free society has its roots in the early period of the American nation. From the beginning, people pushed for a free society where they could take control of their lives. They envisioned fair governance that was devoid of domination propped up by fair elections, and where everyone had a chance to succeed regardless of their background. Moreover, in this democratic ideal, the censorship of what people says and mutilation of press freedom was not expected. It was safe to say that adults had control over their lives and could govern themselves, and no government could be left to people thought to be experts to run it (Miller, 1991).
Before the ratification of the United States constitution, there existed a remarkable rich culture of democracy in America. The ratification of the constitution experienced many struggles, and this was essentially a fight over principles and a way of life. The anti-federalists fought for a way of life that bordered on liberty whereas the federalists considered the two aims of government as envisioned in the constitution to be petty, weak, and destructive. The two aims of government were forging of an empire that was mighty and protection of individual rights of Americans with a bias to property rights. The eighteenth-century battles between decentralists, anti-federalists and federalists shaped the arguments and prejudices against the early democracy (Miller, 1991). Both the decentralists and the anti-federalists sought to preserve the participation principles, the autonomy of local self-rule, and principles of uniform local community. The federalists had different views and were focused on consolidating power and centralizing in the new nation. In early America, there was widespread democratic activity and proposition. During this period, far more people participated in national politics. Elsewhere, the Puritans of Massachusetts Bay opposed the centralized manner and the organization of Catholic and Anglican churches into hierarchies. They developed a new theory of organization of churches which gave power to members of small and autonomous congregations. Additionally, they struggled with England to make sure the charters that guaranteed their self-governance was preserved. The emergence of the Puritan theology and organization of churches was essentially the beginning of American democracy.
The declaration of independence on July4, 1776 was an important aspect of democracy in the early United States. The Declaration of Independence is unanimously regarded as the promise of a free and democratic nation. By declaring independence, the founding fathers of the American nation set out to anchor a government that was based on rule of law and the realization and protection of individual rights (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 2008). This declaration of independence officially led to the disintegration of all political ties that existed between Great Britain and the American colonies. Furthermore, it established the principles and ideas that were to inform a fair and just government. The essence of the constitution was to outline how the elected governments will function. The Declaration of Independence document ratified on July 4, 1776 was to last forever; protecting individual rights and helping Americans to get just governments. It presented a framework of self-government that was envisaged to last forever. From the beginning, this was a wonderful gift that all Americans could hold its principles in their hearts. The Declaration of Independence envisioned a situation where no sacred kind of mankind could be tampered with for selfish gain. Alexander Hamilton, a brilliant lawyer from New York and a distinguished statesman uttered that the individual rights of people could not just be recorded in documents, but they are written in the whole nature of human beings by the hand of a divine being or God. These rights could not easily be erased of obstructed by powerful people in governance n (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 2008). In 1819, Thomas Jefferson was of the view that the Declaration of Independence was a charter that wholesomely declared the rights of the American people, and of the rights of humankind. This historical moment of declaring independence was part of the facets of anchoring democracy in independent United States. Government was to be fair and just without infringing on the rights of their citizens; the Declaration of Independence document protected the individual rights of people.
The Declaration of Independence dissolved the political ties between Great Britain and the American colonies. It was superbly authored through incorporation of profound ideas; call for a decent respect of opinions of other people. Moreover, it was a self-evident truth that all men were created equal and that their Creator endowed them with certain rights that are unalienable. Among these rights are right to life, pursuit of happiness, and liberty. In securing these rights, governments will be instituted among all people, and that they will derive their justified powers through the consent of the citizens who are to be governed. Any government that is unruly contemptuous of these rights assured by the creator, the people have will no have no hindrance to push for its alteration or abolishment. Moreover, they will have express freedom to institute new government, and ensure that it is founded on principles that assure their safety and happiness. Additionally, the repaired or new government will organize its powers in such a way that the individual rights of people will be practices. On the hand, established governments were not to be changed by mere transient causes, but for worthy causes. However, whenever governments engage in long and outright abuse of the fundamental rights acknowledged in the Declaration of Independence, or blatant engagement in despotism that invariably tampers with their welfare and life, then it was the right of Americans to abolish the government. Despotic activities in this new nation could not be entertained. The security of all citizens and their unquestionable well-being was envisaged to be part of the nation’s tradition. Under colonialism, the rights of United States inhabitants had been exceedingly been violated. They had a juncture whereby they had no option but to alter their system of governance to one that wholly appreciates ratification of laws that of public good, one that is attentive to their individual needs, and one that respects the dignity of human life and protection of individual rights (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 2008). It therefore follows that the Declaration of Independence was a fundamental document that heralded the pursuit of democracy in the early United States. Democracy was initially represented with Americans having the freedom to choose fair and just governments and abolishing those that went against the grain, and unquestionable respect of individual rights endowed by the creator.
The Declaration of Independence was more of a promise, but the Constitution was the anticipated fulfillment of this promise. The constitution structured in such a way that covers all facets of American life. From the moment the constitution was being drafted the constitution has been full of conflicts. The founders fought over which provisions could be included in this document and how the provisions could be presented. It was necessary to come up with a constitution that would herald democracy in this new nation. Initially, the framers came up with “Articles of Confederation: The first attempt at Government.” This spelled out that Congress would be the central branch of government, and the president and judicial branches will be absent. This was necessary because they feared that America will develop into a monarchy, but this led to weak union that could no offer its own defense (Bianco and Cannon, 2010). All the founders of the nation agreed that they required democracy that was representative but failed to come up with similar concerns. This was largely due to the self-interests of the founders together with the economic differences that existed in various regions. According to James Madison and other federalists involved in constitution-making, a republican democracy where the views of the people were to be represented by elected leaders. This kind of democracy was to encompass the regular election of leaders by the constituents, and the most important role of government was to protect the natural rights of the citizens (Bianco and Cannon, 2010). Government had to get the consent to govern from the citizens. However, the framing of the constitution was influenced by economic conditions that existed across the country; the framers comprised most of the elite of American society, majority of the population was made up of farmers or and craftsmen, and the economy of the southern region was very much dependent on labor provided by slaves and exportation of cash crops. The northern states had exceedingly small farms but with huge promise of being exploited commercially. All this economic factors were important when framing of the Constitution that would guide the development of a nation that could embrace democracy and respect of natural rights of the people.
With good administration of the state, the United States has come to develop its interest in foreign policy as compared with the initial interest at the founding of the nation. Beginning in the late 1880s, the foreign policy of America was characterized with assertiveness. This is evident in disputes that have existed between Chile, Britain, and Germany. At the turn of the twentieth century, the United States has transformed into a world power. It has acquired Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and parts of the Samoan islands, and annexed Hawaii. Additionally, it has committed itself to functions of policing the world to supposedly entrench or help the development of democracy in foreign lands. The initial pursuit of democracy at the founding of the nation has prompted the nation to remain focused on growing democracy in the world.
References
Miller, J. (2004). The Rise and Fall of Democracy in Early America, 1630-1789: The Legacy for Contemporary Politics. Penn State Press.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (2008). The Declaration of Independence.
Bianco, W., & Canon, D. (2010). The Constitution and the Founding. Retrieved December 6, 2014, from http://www.wwnorton.com/college/polisci/american-politics-today2/full/ch/02/outline.aspx
