Developing Democracy - Katie

One-thousand, nine hundred, seventy-six; one-thousand, nine-hundred, seventy-seven; one-thousand, nine-hundred, seventy-eight. By 1879, Thomas Alva Edison had spent years trying to find a long-lasting filament for the incandescent light bulb. When, after 2,000 attempts, he finally discovered the carbonized cotton-thread filament, his invention changed the entire world. Similarly, America seemed to light up the world when it achieved independence from Britain in 1781 and began to set up the first democracy the world had seen since the Roman Republic. Sometimes America’s success dominated the historical stage, but, in reality, America succeeded because it built on the shoulders of the Greeks, Romans, and British, learning from their victories and defeats. The United States of America continued the rich tradition in democracy developed by the Greeks, Romans, and British.

Over 2,000 years before America achieved independence, the ancient Greeks introduced the idea that everyone can, and should, participate in government. In 500 B.C., several Greek cities, most-notably Athens, had adopted a form of government in which ordinary citizens came together to rule themselves. They called this new form of government “democracy,” meaning “rule of the people.” Together they decided how to protect their city, stimulate trade, and punish criminals. To express his opinion on an issue, each man marked a piece of pottery supporting or opposing the proposition at hand. After all the votes had been cast, an official would count the votes and proclaim the majority the winner. As the cities grew, they discovered that it was impractical to have every citizen contribute to the plethora of issues that arose. Accordingly, they created a Council of 500 men to oversee the everyday business of their city. Surprisingly, men were not elected to the Council of 500, but chosen by lot, proving how sincerely the Greeks believed that every man could, and should help to govern.

The Roman Republic adapted Greek ideas in order to practically govern a large group of people, introducing representative government. Unlike their Greek contemporaries, Roman cities were all unified, making direct democracy incredibly unpractical. To remedy this problem, the Romans divided the administration of the state into two bodies: the executive and the legislative. In order that no one man would have too much power, the executive branch was shared by two Consuls who together administrated the judicial and legislative aspects of the government and also commanded the army in time of battle. They were elected by the Comitia Centuriata, a gathering of all Roman soldiers, through representation, each Century voting once. As the other branch in the Roman Republic, the Senate controlled taxes, gave orders to the Consuls, and dictated foreign policy. Senators were appointed after having been elected as magistrates by the people of Rome. Thus the Roman people, instead of directly governing themselves, elected others to govern on their behalf.

One-thousand years later, the British struggled to win the right to a trial by jury of peers, to control taxes, and to have a say in the government. After the Roman Republic collapsed, Europe, and the entire known world, reverted to absolute monarchies. However, the British were not content to submit to the whims of their kings and, over the centuries, fought to regain their rights. Under Henry II, they gained the right to a trial by jury of peers, instead of being tried by the king’s friends. Henry II also introduced common law, the promise that all Britons would be held to the same standard, no matter what their position. After defeating John of England at the Battle of Runnymede in 1215, British nobles forced him to sign the Magna Charta, a document limiting the king’s power, protecting citizens from unlawful imprisonment, and giving the nobles the power to approve or reject taxes. In an attempt to raise money, Edward I sold “shares” of the government to burghers who formed Parliament, which, in time, would trump the king’s power and rule England.

The Greeks, Romans, and British provided a solid foundation for American democracy. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and the other Founding Fathers built on the democratic concepts handed down through the ages. Like the Greeks, they believed that ordinary men could and should participate in the government, making it possible for any citizen to become a president, senator, or Supreme Court justice. In order to restrict power, they divided the government into branches, as the Romans did. They treasured justice and equality as much as their British forefathers, and set up the government to protect the people’s rights. Though some might suppose that we have reached the epitome of democracy, there is still room for growth. Just as modern engineers have continued to perfect Edison’s light bulb, inventing cheaper, cleaner ways to light our homes, so democracy will continue to develop, building on the foundations set over 2,000 years ago.

-- Katie (grade 12)