Democracy (English Topic)

THE FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY The United States has had the same type of government – a “representative democracy” – for more than 200 years. When citizens directly participate by voting, the government is called a “democracy. ” Among the nations of the... More

THE FIGHT FOR DEMOCRACY The United States has had the same type of government – a “representative democracy” – for more than 200 years. When citizens directly participate by voting, the government is called a “democracy. ” Among the nations of the world, it is unusual for a system of government to last so long. Most governments are based on a written set of principles, usually called a “constitution” or a “charter,” but having a constitution does not always guarantee democratic behavior. During America s first 150 years, most of the settlers came from Great Britain. Along America s Atlantic coast, these colonists built settlements that became what are commonly called the "Original Thirteen Colonies. " The British settlers lived under the rule of the King of England. They worked hard building homes, farms and towns, even though they did not own these places. However, because they worked so hard, they wanted to be involved in making decisions about their lives an Less