1.4 : Principles of Democracy

Do Now:

Do you feel your voice is always heard and do you have an impact on decision making that affects YOUR life?

1.4 : Principles of Democracy

Where did Democracy start and how did it flourish? History of Democracy

Athens was the first democratic government as people who were designated “citizens” (male, non-slave, adult, from Athens) were allowed to vote in the Assembly. 6th to 4th Century.

The Roman Republic allowed Males from Rome, and at times from subject territories, to vote. Freed slaves could not vote, but their male children could when they reached age. 500 to 50 BCE.

1.4 : Principles of Democracy

The Magna Carta (1215) is the first document to take considerable power from the King. It required freedmen to be subject to “the Law of the Land” and not the King’s arbitrary will. 1200 t o 17,000’s.

The English bill of rights (1689) guarantees some natural rights to its citizens.

The American Constitution (with amendments 1-10, the Bill of Rights) guarantees the survival of democratic principles. (1787)

Where did Democracy start and how did it flourish?

1.4 : Principles of DemocracyWhere did Democracy start and how did it flourish? History of Democracy.

The idea of democracy is largely the product of enlightenment thinkers like: Hobbs, Locke, Montesquieu, Rousseau, and Voltaire. All of their thoughts leave a lasting impression on humanity.

French, American, and Latin Americans begin to follow the thoughts of these thinkers as democratic revolutions begin.

•Democracy begins to spread and sticks in some areas.

1.4 : Principles of Democracy

What are the principles that make up a democracy?

•Unalienable Rights•Lockian and Rousseauian Revolution•Liberty•Republicanism•Equality•Majority Rule Minority Rights•Compromise

1.4 : Principles of Democracy

Unalienable Rights

Locke believed that humans were given rights by God in their creation that could not be separated from them. He believed that it was the cause of government to protect these rights.

“Reason, which is that Law, teaches all Mankind, who would but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his Life, Health, Liberty, or Possessions.” -John Locke

1.4 : Principles of Democracy

Lockean and Rousseauian RevolutionLocke and Rousseau said that people must revolt against a

government that does not protect the peoples rights.

"... whenever the Legislators endeavour to take away, and destroy the Property of the People, or to reduce them to Slavery under Arbitrary Power, they put themselves into a state of War with the People, who are thereupon absolved from any farther Obedience, and are left to the common refuge which God hath

provided for all men against force and violence.”-John Locke

“Force does not constitute right... obedience is due only to legitimate powers. “

-Jean-Jacques Rousseau

1.4 : Principles of Democracy

Liberty

Liberty is the ability to have control over your own actions.

"It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace – but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!“-Patrick Henry troops to Virginia

1.4 : Principles of Democracy

“Nature hath made men so equal in the faculties of body and mind as that, though there be found one man sometimes manifestly stronger in body or of quicker mind than another, yet when all is reckoned together the difference between man & man is not so considerable as that one man can thereupon claim to himself any benefit to which another may not pretend as well as he. For as to the strength of body, the weakest has strength enough to kill the strongest, either by secret machination or by confederacy with others that are in the same danger with himself. “- Thomas Hobbes.

Equality

Hobbes believed man was equal because he was able to kill any other man. It was the ability to take life that equalized all men. Locke and subsequent enlightenment thinkers believed that Man either was given rights by God or Nature which made them

1.4 : Principles of Democracy

Republicanism“Rule by Law” not by individual

“True republicanism is the sovereignty of the people.

There are natural and imprescriptible rights which

an entire nation has no right to violate.”

-Marquis de Lafayette Republicanism is the idea that we are a society that is ruled by an agreed upon set of laws that protect our individual rights. Individuals do not possess absolute or arbitrary powers. The code of law is what governs the people.

1.4 : Principles of Democracy

Majority Rules - vs - Minority rights

"If it be admitted that a man possessing absolute power may misuse that power by wronging his adversaries, why should not a majority be liable to the same reproach? Men do not change their characters by uniting with one another; nor does their patience in the presence of obstacles increase with their strength. For my own part, I cannot believe it; the power to do everything, which I should refuse to one of my equals, I will never grant to any number of them.“

Alexis de Tocqueville, "Tyranny of the Majority,"

Have students complete the translation activity before discussing this quote.

1.4 : Principles of DemocracyMajority Rules - vs - Minority rights

•Fluidity of the Majority•Each issue or election is visited separately, and thus, as individual opinions vary, the people which comprise the Majority and Minority will shift with different issues•The Majority (on any given issue) must not be able to protect and make permanent its position•Through elections the Minority must be able to make itself the majority

•Protection of Universal Rights•There must be some protection of the rights of the Minority•As the Majority/Minority is constantly shifting this protection must be universal•In many countries a “Bill of Rights” that is considered universal is permanently included into founding documents

1.4 : Principles of Democracy

CompromiseCompromise is one way in which the majority protects minority rights.

Our legislative branch is set up in a way which requires compromise as the majority rarely has an unobstructed path to making the laws it wishes to create.

The United States government is not arranged in order to be quick and efficient. In fact, it was organized in order to compete against itself (taking a page from Montesquieu) and change slowly. This “balance of power”

.