Analyze how democracy in the colonies affected the U.S. constitution
As the colonies grew, so did the idea of democracy. It was not a new idea. Democracy had been around since the time of the ancient Greeks. What was new about the colonies’ system was the democratic republic. This means that while the majority rules, the minority still has rights. Our country is founded on this principle. Without it, we wouldn’t be where we are today.
What started this principle? Well, Jamestown, as it was the first successful colony, had the first democracy in the New World. The House of Burgesses was the most notable democratic system in Jamestown. Unfortunately, there was certainly racism, and sexism. While in the beginning every white male was allowed to vote on representatives, by 1652 only white, male, landowners were allowed to vote. Still, having a democracy at all, instead of a monarchy, was a big step to where we are today.
The Mayflower Compact was another big step to getting where we are today. Puritans, indentured servants, and others on the Mayflower all agreed to combine and covenant themselves into a civil body politik. This meant that they would create their own laws, and that they all agreed to follow them. In fact, the Mayflower Compact was said to have inspired some of the writers of the Constitution.
So how did democracy in the colonies affect the constitution? George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, two of the most influential in writing the constitution, were from Jamestown, and had been members of the House of Burgesses. Many consider George Washington’s decision to be president instead of king one of the most important decisions in history. Would he have made this decision if he hadn’t been from the House of Burgesses? We will never know.
As the colonies grew, so did the idea of democracy. It was not a new idea. Democracy had been around since the time of the ancient Greeks. What was new about the colonies’ system was the democratic republic. This means that while the majority rules, the minority still has rights. Our country is founded on this principle. Without it, we wouldn’t be where we are today.
What started this principle? Well, Jamestown, as it was the first successful colony, had the first democracy in the New World. The House of Burgesses was the most notable democratic system in Jamestown. Unfortunately, there was certainly racism, and sexism. While in the beginning every white male was allowed to vote on representatives, by 1652 only white, male, landowners were allowed to vote. Still, having a democracy at all, instead of a monarchy, was a big step to where we are today.
The Mayflower Compact was another big step to getting where we are today. Puritans, indentured servants, and others on the Mayflower all agreed to combine and covenant themselves into a civil body politik. This meant that they would create their own laws, and that they all agreed to follow them. In fact, the Mayflower Compact was said to have inspired some of the writers of the Constitution.
So how did democracy in the colonies affect the constitution? George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, two of the most influential in writing the constitution, were from Jamestown, and had been members of the House of Burgesses. Many consider George Washington’s decision to be president instead of king one of the most important decisions in history. Would he have made this decision if he hadn’t been from the House of Burgesses? We will never know.