Реферат: Democracy Essay Research Paper DemocracyI

between the colonists in America, and British over unfair taxes and unfair

representation. In 1776 the Declaration of Independence was drafted, and singed.

This Declaration stated that the colonies of Britain were their own country, the

United States of America with their own laws, government, and taxes. The

founding fathers of the United States of America didn t trust the Athenian form of

democracy, direct democracy, because they feared giving the people too much

power. Instead they divided the power between the federal government, and the

state government. They then divided the power between the legislative, executive,

and judicial branches. Also, they made it so the president, who had power similar

to the Roman consuls, would be elected by an electoral college, instead of by a

direct vote. In the long term almost all adult citizens have been given the right to

vote.

The French Revolution, which was spurred on by thinkers like

Montesquieu, Roseau, and Voltaire because their writings, some which were

banned, told people of the freedoms they should have. This revolution, although

it didn t make France a democracy, did limit the power of the French King, and it

also promoted the ideas of liberty and equality.

Today many types of governments claim to be democratic. Communism

governments are known as peoples democracies. Tese are not considered true

democracies by many people, because they limit he rights of many people. The

reason many people don t consider these governments true democracies is because

they limit freedom of expression, and competitive elections.

There have been many important people in the development of democracy.

Draco, Solon, and Cleisthes were all important contributors to democracy. These

Athenian rulers laid the groundwork for our modern democracies. King John, who

signed the Magna Carta and changed turned England into a republic opened the

door to many individual freedoms. John Locke, Montisquieu, Roseau, Voltaire,

Ben Franklin, and Thomas Paine who helped to shape democracy through their

writings, their teachings, and their ideas. Thomas Jefferson who drafted the