Basic Concepts of Democracy

• What are the foundations of democracy?

• What are the connections betweendemocracy and the free enterprise system?

• How has the Internet affected democracy?

The American concept of democracy rests on these basic notions:

(1) A recognition of the fundamental worth and dignity of every person

(2) A respect for the equality of all persons;(3) A faith in majority rule and an insistence upon

minority rights(4) An acceptance of the necessity of compromise; and(5) An insistence upon the widest possible degree of

individual freedom.

Democracy and the Free Enterprise System

• The free enterprise system is an economic systemcharacterized by private or corporate ownership ofcapital goods; investments that are determined byprivate decision rather than by state control; anddetermined in a free market.

• Decisions in a free enterprise system are determinedby the law of supply and demand.

• An economy in which private enterprise exists incombination with a considerable amount ofgovernment regulation and promotion is called amixed economy.

Democracy and the Internet

Democracy demands that the people bewidely informed about their government.

• Theoretically, the Internet makesknowledgeable participation in democraticprocess easier than ever before.

• However, all data on the World Wide Web isnot necessarily true, and the long-termeffects of the Internet on democracy has yetto be determined.

• The Magna Carta – 1215, Provided protection to citizens against the king. Included fundamental rights as trial by jury, due process of law, and taking of life, liberty or property.

• The Petition of Rights – Limited the power of the King. The king could not imprison or punish any person but by the lawful judgment by his peers, or by the law of the land. No martial law in time of peace.

• The Bill of Rights – Prohibited a free standing army in peace time, except with consent of Parliament. Also included guarantees such as the right to a fair trial, and freedom from cruel and unusual punishment & excessive bail.

------------------------------------------------------------• Ordered Government – Created local governments. Offices and government units such as sheriff,

coroner, townships, and counties still exist.

• Limited Government – Individuals have certain rights the government cannot take away.

• Representative Government – People should have a voice in deciding in what government should do and not do.

• What was the appeal that the Colonies had to the settlers before the 1760s?

• Royal Colonies (8) – subjected to direct control from the Crown. The Council were the advisors to the royal governor, the upper house of two house legislature, and the court.

• Proprietary Colonies (3) – Organized by a proprietor on a grant of land (Charter).

• The Charter Colonies (2) – Charters granted to the colonists themselves.

Colonial Policies & Unity

• Distance from England allowed the colonists the ability to self govern.

• 1760 – George III raised taxes to pay for British troops in North America. Settlers believed the British troops were not necessary because the French’s power was broken in the French & Indian War (1754-1763)

Colonial Policies & Unity Cont…

• In 1643, several New England settlements formed the New England Confederation.

• A confederation is a joining of several groups for a common purpose.

• The Albany Plan – 1754 Benjamin Franklin. 13 Colonies would form an annual congress of delegates. The body would have power to raise military, make war and peace, regulate trade, tax, and collect customs duties. Plan was a head of its time, and was not approved by the colonies and the Crown.