Essays on American Democracy

Thomas Jefferson (1743- 1826) and Andrew Jackson (1767-1845) served as the US presidents from 1801 to 1809 and from 1829 to 1837 respectively. The two popular presidents made significant contributions to the development of democracy in the United States. Historians and policy makers have criticized the two for acting in ways that seemed to compromise the very democracy they professed to uphold. Andrew Jackson stands as the president who better upheld the ideals of democracy and interests of the common man as he expanded voting rights, regulated the US National Bank and resolved the nullification crisis among many other ...

President George H.W. Bush was a conservative in terms of his foreign policy for he firmly believed that it was America’s duty to rid the world of dictators and instill the same kind of democracy that they practice in the United States. While this may appear similar to Reagan’s foreign policy, however, Bush was more active in giving power to various government organizations such as the National Security Council thus promoting the influence of its advisor. Not only that, Bush also took to removing Russia out of its dominant position in Eastern Europe as the Cold War ...

Introduction

Democracy is a government of the people, by the people and for the people. The essence of the American Revolution was to create such a government that would allow Americans to gain liberty, equality and freedom. This was to be based on fair representation of the people and the Separation of Powers between three arms of government. For practical purposes though, it is necessary for governance to be exercised by a group of people in the arms of government. This has been abused over the years and the people of America supposed to collectively determine affairs of government in ...

Abstract

The research topic is relevant due to the ongoing discussions about the historical role of Abraham Lincoln in the national history of the United States of America. Since now there have been absolutely opposite assessments of the presidency of Lincoln: from the openly apologetic to almost offensive. In the first case, the 16th President of the United States appears before us as the Savior of American democracy, the liberator of slaves and statesman, to prevent the collapse of the United States. In the second case it is absolutely "gray" politician who is guilty of inciting four-year Civil war that ...

Introduction

It seems difficult to analyze democratic transition from the standpoint of international dimension both theoretically and practically because not so much literatures that discuss about what the external environment actually is and how it might contribute to domestic change (Cavatorta 2005). However, it does not mean that international context will be ignored in the analysis process because international factors might have impacts on the transition process through their connections with domestic actors particularly in terms of distribution of power and resources, which in turn have effect on how they will act (Cavatorta 2005). One thing to remember is a ...

People active in politics are elite in the sense that they play a larger role than most citizens. But there are also many American elections and so many places where political action can be blocked that no single elite can dominate. Business corporations, for example, are an importance interest group, but they only dominate client politics, and even then their influences can be overcome by entrepreneurial politics.

DO ELITES DOMINATE AMERICAN POLITICS?

Public opinion influences the making of U.S. policies through a number of channels. Elites in American business, education, communications, labor, and religion try to influence presidential decision making through several strategies. In ...

The period following WWII, known as the Cold War era, spanned form 1945 to 1965, and was defined by the ongoing conflict between the Soviet and American nations. This era was defined by more than tension between two countries, but became an age of constant fear. The American people were afraid of communism and of subversion and aggression acted out on the American people by the Soviet nation. This fear ultimately infiltrated every aspect of American life, heavily impacting governmental policies and political agendas, as the nation’s leaders acted to protect the American people. One of the cultural ...

One word that sums up succinctly the American ideal of our country is “Freedom.” American citizens and politicians routinely refer to the United States as “the land of the free.” As such one of the most important aspects of American democracy are that the freedoms of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness continue to be protected. Democracy is a system of government in which people have a say in policies. A “good” democracy is one in which government decision are in sync with the will of the people. A “good” democracy also allow for the will ...

Response to Provided Answers

Question 1

You have a good argument. However, a few sentences are not authoritative enough. For example, in your answer you have “I think all American ,” this sentence could be revised as follows “It is imperative that American” In this case, you avoid overuse of the first pronoun “I”, while maintaining active voice writing. In addition to the cited reference, you could consider the contributions of the Federal Constitutional drafters such as Madison and Hamilton. Consider how their essays on the constitution promoted democracy and the subsequent adoption of the draft that form the foundation of the American ...

The events of September 11, 2001 will forever remain etched in the memories of many people. The attacks on United States left many in horror; beyond the gruesome murders and the maiming of thousands, the security of Americans and the rest of the world in general remain volatile. The US congress moved swiftly to enact laws as the government sought to tighten the security of its people. However, some of the security measures the government took have been condemned by civil rights activists as infringing on the civil liberties of Americans.

Civil liberties are, “the personal freedoms and ...

The American democracy attributed to majoritarian considerations. Primarily, the government aims at giving the majority rights in order to govern themselves. Similarly, majority governance is centered on the principles that ensure maximum participation of the citizens in deciding which policies become laws. The system of ideology that may be conservative, populist, libertarian or liberal is common in the U.S. Ideology allows people to determine the state’s course of action. Individualism characterizes the fabric of American democracy. The state’s efforts are concentrated on the culture and the individuals’ themselves. Under the circumstances of individualism in a democracy, the ...

Originally the colonists came to American to get away from religious oppression. Seeking a life of their own they believed they could live more freely here, with a representative in the government in Britain. Essentially it would be like having Britain watch over them without experiencing the suffocation of Britain’s rule. While Americans still saw themselves as English, England saw the American colonies as a mere economic opportunity and refused them many of their requests. To the English, the American colonists were not as good as they were. This arrangement did not work and eventually a dispute broke out between Britain and ...

Ancient Greece is renowned for being the origin of western civilization. Greeks were the first to introduce the concept of democracy in the world. They were also the pioneers of ground-breaking ideas in the fields of technology and inventions. Ancient Greece did not govern as a single entity. but it had independent city-states within it with their distinctive administrations and militia. Among those states, Athens was the most important. A close examination of history reveals that Athens was the hub of urban activity in Greece and without Athens Greek history will lose its significance making the modern life an obsolete ...

Although critical of democracy, Tocqueville did recognize that democracy was the form of political arrangement which would most likely be dominant in the future. While democracy could lead to an overall well being, it could also lead to a type of servitude. Examine and evaluate two of the principal means – the notion of self-interest properly understood and the need for associations – which Tocqueville believed are necessary to mitigate against the dangers of equality and democratic society.

Tocqueville’s Idea of Democracy

The criticism of American democracy by Tocqueville can be expressed as “the tyranny of the majority” (Roark, p. 19). This idea has been ...

Is American democracy working?

Democracy refers to rule by the people to the people and for the people particularly as the government either indirectly or directly through elected representatives (Skocpol and Morris 12). The voters usually end up supporting whom they perceive to offer the best promises at the moment, regardless of the long-term consequences to the nation. Voting, in other words, is a contest based on short-term rewards rather than long-term vision. U.S is a country made up of fifty states. It is known as the world's superpower. Being that it is made up of many states; each state has a difference in the ...

The Reality of “Accepted Truths” Today

The Reality of “Accepted Truths” Today

Introduction

Studying political science necessitates critical thought on the status of “accepted truths” as applied to contemporary American politics in comparison to its past. Review of the literature whether this remains an appropriately assigned characteristic of American politics as recognized forty years ago frames the discourse of the scholastic task presented in this document. Von Eckardt (1995) advises “The truth of an argument alone makes it convincing (when it is) undeniable or self-evident, that is, evident by its own terms and definitions, it forms one of the axioms of politics (Von Eckardt, 1959, p. ...

This essay has been written by Name of Student of Class of Student of Name of College

Democracy in the United States, today, stands on three major pillars or the foundation stones. These pillars are The Declaration of Independence (1776), The US Constitution (1787), and the Bill of Rights (1789). The three documents have the historic significance and have guided Americans for over two centuries on the path of democracy. There is a fourth pillar of the American democracy as well. The fourth "pillar" is the grassroots activism of African-American citizenship during American Revolutionary times. Other marginalized, or excluded groups, such as poor white farmers, women, and "Indians" were excluded from the "cornerstone" documents. Thomas Paine's democracy ...

Constitutional Convention

Constitutional Convention of 1787 was a significant day in the history of the United States. Constitutional Convention set the future course of action for the national and state governments in the United States of America. Diverse factions and delegates from federal and state governments participated to formulate a constitution for the United States. Different factions represented at the Constitutional Convention with wide difference over numbers of issues, however, they all overcame the difference and finalized the American Constitution at the Constitutional Convention. American Constitution has been the foundation of the United States government for over two centuries. It defines the ...

- Introduction: The Second Amendment is crucial to the very nature of American democracy. - First point: The framers of the constitution wrote the constitution under the assumption that the most important governing document would not let government pass restrictions that would prevent free citizens from owning a firearm. - Second Point: Media coverage is often slanted on the issue, with different media fighting with each other instead of offering objective viewpoints on the issue. - Third Point: Self-defense, stopping government tyranny, protecting from foreign invasions are three reasons why the government should not pass laws infringing ...

Introduction

American electoral system witnessed a ruthless test in the American presidential election that took place in the year 2000. It was a rare political Ordeal and Supreme Court intervened into the contemporary circumstance. American electoral system required a change due to such situation and the American policy makers decided to improve the current electoral process. Numerous electoral reforms are introduced in the electoral system since 2000, and a number of other reforms are waiting to be introduced in the future according to the changing circumstances. This paper intends to discuss the American electoral system and further discusses the reforms that are required in ...

Chapter 1

NOTE 1 A The government is defined by different branches that form the government which are distinguished and identified by the power and freedom that each of them exercises. Power is defined by the one who rules while freedom is determined by how much control of the government is allowed in a particular form of government. There can be an authoritarian system of government whereby the power is exercised through violence. A totalitarian system of government is a system of government whereby the extent of violence is far beyond that exercised by the authoritarian government (11). The contrast of ...

The power of media and its effects on the society cannot be underestimated. The media has a profound effect on people’s culture, values, and priorities. Perhaps the biggest influence the media has on individuals is its determination of reality. Today many societies fall victims to media influences. The media’s influences especially on kids are so palpable that scholars have debated if the media’s influence on youth and the society is sustainable. Granted, the media also is credited for positive roles that its plays in the society particularly in regard with information. In addition to shaping popular culture, ...

America's Town Meeting of the Air, New York City - November 23, 1939

In the New Deal era, educator and activist Mary McLeod Bethune was called, “The First Lady of the Struggle", for her influence on the Roosevelt administration on civil rights issues. In 1904, Bethune founded a small school for black girls, in Florida, and she quickly built it into a thriving college-prep and vocational training program. In 1923, she merged the school with Cookman College to create the first fully accredited black institution of higher learning in the state. Bethune was born to former slaves in 1875. One of seventeen children, she grew up picking cotton in Sumter County, South Carolina. ...

First, the professor defines what a democracy is. A democracy he says is a government by the people. Meaning, it is the majority opinion that matters in a democracy. There are two kinds of democracies, the direct democracy and the representative democracy. The American Democracy is the representative type. Therefore, it is called a republic. Before a republic comes into place, people with similar interests come together to form it. This is where we get our first doctrine in the American constitution, which is meant to limit power for the general purpose of advancing human freedom. To fully understand this doctrine, the following question ...

The Question “what does it mean to be an American” is of current interest. In the article “Toward a Political Science of Citizenship” Macedoet all argue that political participation which is a key element of citizen engagement with the political process of a country is a “product of choice” (p. 19). The question “What does it mean to be an American” thus questions the future of American democracy in light of the challenges arising from citizens lack of participation. While Americans still remain as the shining example for the rest of the world measured in the context of the American democratic experiment, the ...

The social and political changes taken in the course of the Civil Rights Movement were accomplished through dramatic action and powerful organization, using grassroots initiatives and the participation of women in the leadership process (though only at an intermediate level). Women slowly became an increasingly important demographic in the leadership of the Civil Rights Movement. Women chiefly occupied an intermediate leadership role, providing moderate leadership in many local and regional cells of civil rights organizations. These intermediate layers of local leadership became vital to the Civil Rights Movement, as the inclusion of women in the groups also provided needed ...

“How Democratic is the American Constitution?” is one of Robert A. Dahl’s latest works. In his nook, Dahl delves deeper into the complexities of the process and the ideals of the framing of American democracy. Although most Americans view the American Constitution as a beacon of democracy that came about in the most methodical manner, however, Dahl reveals to his readers that this is not the case. Dahl’s book begins by posing the abiding question that is the book’s title as well, and Dahl also goes on to ask Americans why they should uphold the American Constitution. ...

Role of the America citizen in democracy

This paper aims at examining the role of the American citizens in democracy. However, before the author explores what roles the American citizens play in ensuring that democracy prevails in the country, it is prudent that we look at what is democracy. Actually, democracy has myriad of meanings especially to the citizens of America. For instance, it may mean the natural rights, liberty and even the equality of dealing with people in the country. However, despite of this solemn definition of democracy, it has always been on record that at times it may be extremely difficult for the government ...

Introduction

The American democracy stands out as one of the most stable and effective democracies. Since the declaration of Independence by the founding fathers, America has undergone tremendous changes that have seen it through progress. The process has been evolutionary and painful, often buoyed with bloodshed, wars and unending quests for justice. It is this paper’s contention that the democracy of America was influenced by four main theorists whose works continues to determine governance and the system of government. The theorists include Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Baron Montesquieu and A.V. Dicey. This paper would canvass their theories, how they ...

Restoring democracy in the United States will require major reforms that reduce the power of corporations, elites and special interests in the whole political process. Right now, there is a radical disconnect between the political and economic elites and the needs and interests of the ordinary voters. Most people today realize that the country is in its worse crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s, but government and the political system seem dysfunctional and incapable of dealing with it. Removing the power and control of big money from the political process forever would be the most important step in ...

Alexis de Tocqueville had seen the various attempts his country of France had failed in putting in place a democratic government. He thus became curious and wanted to study the existent prosperous, democratic governments of the time and know their operations. The results of his studies made him conclude that although the move towards democracy had gained much ground in America, it was a global trend that would slowly become a permanent phenomenon that could not be interfered with. This is what Craiutu and Jennings concluded as being the motivation for his tour to America. Gustave de Beaumont and Alexis de ...