The Colonies felt oppressed by Britain, so they struck out on their own away from their mother country.
Democracy in a Monarchical world
The US senate
Many voices
or
One voice
or
One voice
King George III
Most of the men at the Federal Convention, had already been at the Continental Congress, where they decided that America was going to be independent from britain. However, once they were separate, they needed to set down some laws.
But how should these laws be chosen?
- Should someone, perhaps George Washington, settle down to be King of America?
- Should there be a total democracy with everyone having an equal say in everything?
Kings
King Edward III
- Governments were generally run by monarchs in the eighteenth century.
- George Washington had just won the Revolutionary War so the throne was traditionally his.
However most of the founding fathers believed that all kings, not just King George III were inherently evil, so they did not set up a monarchy.
Geogre Washington
People
Democracy was a slow form of government, because everyone had to voice their opinion on any decision. Also the idea that anyone could make a decision was not appealing, because this meant that uneducated people could swing the vote.
The continental congress
At the continental congress, many of the same people who would later participate in the federal convention, created the articles of confederation. These articles gave:
- Each state one vote in the national government.
- No 'Highest Seat.'
- A very limited national government.
