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Home > Politics > History > American Democracy
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American Democracy
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Abraham Lincoln, one of the best-loved and most respected of America’s
presidents, said that the United States had a government “of the
people, by the people, and for the people.” No one has formulated a
better way the ideals of the American political system as Americans
understand it. The Constitution, laws and traditions of the United
States give the people the right to determine who will be the leader of
their nation, who will make the laws and what the laws will be. The
people have the power to change the system. The Constitution guarantees
individual freedom to all.
The emphasis on freedom, rights and equality has created in citizens of
the United States strong feelings of independence, self-worth, as well
as a belief that people should be able to do what they want without
interference so long as they don’t interfere with the rights of others.
These feelings and beliefs have brought about many social and political
changes in the United States.
One example: In the early 1800s, President Thomas Jefferson began
shaking hands with people he met, no matter who they were. He did this
because he believed the old European custom of bowing was undemocratic.
Americans have been shaking hands as a way of greeting ever since.
There have been many highly important changes brought about in
citizens’ lives because of Americans’ demand for a better life. For
example, in the 1930s, Congress passed laws that increased pay,
decreased working hours and improved working conditions for workers in
factories, in mines and on railroads.
For most Americans, for most of the time, life is peaceful. They do
their jobs and enjoy their homes and families. They keep up with news
of that the president or Congress is doing. Some may at times write
letters to congressman or to newspapers expressing their views. They
might discuss taxes or government activities with friends and family.
Unless something unusual is taking place, however, they do no more than
that. They quietly let their democratic system work while they enjoy
their freedom.
Bill Of Rights
To most Americans, the real foundation of their democracy is the Bill
of Rights, adopted in 1791. This consists of ten very short paragraphs
which guarantee freedom and individual rights and forbid interference
with the lives of individuals by the government. Each paragraph is an
amendment to the original Constitution.
In the Bill of Rights, Americans are guaranteed freedom of religion, of
speech and of the press. They have the right to assemble in public
places, to protest government actions and to demand change. They have
the right to own weapons if they wish. Because of the Bill of Rights,
neither police nor soldiers can stop and search a person without good
reason. They also cannot search a person’s home without legal
permission from a court to do so.
The Bill of Rights guarantees the right to a speedy trial if accused of
a crime. The trial must be able to call in witnesses to speak for him
or her. Cruel and unusual punishment is forbidden.
There were 16 other amendments to the Constitution as of 1985. That is
not many changes considering that the Constitution was written in 1787.
Only a few need to be mentioned here. One forbids slavery and three
others guarantee full rights of citizenship to all people regardless of
race. Another gives women the right to vote and another lowered the
national voting age to 18 years.
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