Democracy

The American Revolution and its Impact on Society

The American Revolution was as a result of liberty, republicanism, as well as independence. The Patriots believed that the people of the United States should have equal rights. After the war, many groups were affected either positively or negatively. On the other hand, there were significant societal changes. American society changed its attitude towards slavery, women rights, religious life, and voting. The society reconsidered the existing relationship between men as well as women (Tilly 91).

Before the war, women were considered to be inferior to men since there lacked clear legal rights for married women. The existing laws did not recognize the independence of married women regarding political, economic, or civic matters. For example, the future first ladies had little clout. Dolley Madison had to fight the heirs of her deceased husband to control their estate. After the Civil War, the attention of people to political issues was increased. Matters of equality were taken into consideration. Numerous studies challenged the notion that men had greater intellectual capacities compared to women. The differences were as a result of bias (Norton 39). The revolution brought a new commitment to female education, and married women enjoyed equal rights to their husbands. Although some changes were felt immediately, slavery among African Americans was abolished about 100 years later. The revolution introduced an organized abolitionist movement which spearheaded equality between African Americans and members of the white society.

Groups Affected by the Aftermath of the Civil War

There were groups affected by the aftermath of the Civil War. For instance, English traditions especially those regarding land ownership were abolished almost immediately. The American Anglican church falls after the American Revolution. This is because the British Monarch was the official head of the Church of England. The Native Americans, who supported the British, were negatively affected by the American victory. Groups such as the Shawnee, Creek, and Cherokee hoped for a British victory that would restrain the colonial settlers from moving even further in the country. Unfortunately, the Native Americans' idea of supporting the British contributed to their displacement throughout the nineteenth century. Ultimately, the dream of Native American independence was brought to its end after America gained independence.

The Significance of the American Revolution

I would support the American revolution because it produced a new outlook among the people of America that would affect their future positively. Although excluded from immediate change, groups such as African American slaves as well as married women drew their later inspirations from revolutionary sentiments. The Civil War empowered Americans and other freedom fighters across the world. Where Americans started to feel that their fight for liberty was a global fight, future democracies drew their inspiration from the revolution. In later stages, the American revolution offered inspirations to the French, Haiti, as well as the South American revolutions. The American patriotic cause is one of the few events that would shake the world order.

Defining Democracy in America

Numerous studies define democracy as "the government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives (Krutz 8)" In America, most laws, as well as other government decisions, are made by the majority vote, implying that America is not a direct democracy. Some laws made on the local or state level are passed by a tiny fraction of lawmakers. For many years now, there has been an ongoing debate as to whether America is a democracy or not. Many leaders in the United States such as Thomas Jefferson have been using the word democracy to describe representative democracy. Similarly, one of the drafters of the Constitution, James Wilson argued that in a democratic country, power is bestowed among the people and can either be exercised through themselves or through elected representatives. According to Chief Justice John Marshall, the American constitution forms the basis for democracy. Through the constitution, democracy is implemented as opposed to despotism. To be sure, the United States also practices constitutional democracy. Shading light unto this, the courts restrain in some measures of the democratic will (Schattschneider, Elmer, and David 23).

Direct democracy is impractical since it calls for all laws to be made through a direct popular vote. In most cases, people use the word "democracy" when discussing a popular government as opposed to a government where people are not given a chance to voice their concerns. A democratic leadership means it is neither monarchical nor aristocratic. America is considered a democracy because it is not a monarchy or a dictatorship.

The Role of Democracy in Protecting Rights

Some scholars such as John Hart Ely suggest that the rights provided in the Constitution reinforce democracy, therefore implying that democracy helps to interpret the Constitution. The representative government encourages free speech. Democracy also reinforces other rights such as the right of free exercise of religion and voting. Apart from creating a secure global arena, democracy has promoted fundamental American values such as the rights of workers. Additionally, other rights of the Constitution are protected. This includes the rights that are not guaranteed by the contract clause in the original constitution. In a survey conducted by the International Panel on Social Progress, the results suggest that many Americans believe that the country practices democracy.

Works Cited

Krutz, Glen. "American Government." 2015.

Norton, Mary Beth. Liberty's Daughters: The Revolutionary Experience of American Women,           1750-1800: with a New Preface. Cornell University Press, 1996. 

Tilly, Charles. "From mobilization to revolution." Collective Violence, Contentious Politics, and    Social Change. Routledge, 2017. 71-91.

Schattschneider, Elmer Eric, and David Adamany. The semisovereign people: A realist's view of           democracy in America. Hinsdale, IL: Dryden Press, 1975.