Comparing Hamilton's Views On Democracy And Athenian Democracy
National Question #3 Alexander Hamilton stated, “It has been observed that a pure democracy if it were practicable would be the most perfect government. Experience has proved that no position is more false than this. The ancient democracies in which the people themselves deliberated never possessed one good feature of government. Their very character was tyranny; their figure deformity.” A democracy, also known as a republican government, has been implemented in many societies. It grants every citizen their voice and furthers political equality amongst all. It supports our decision James Madison states that a republican government “derives all its powers directly or indirectly from the great body of the people”. Furthermore, all citizens
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More so, political equality was tremendously different from the formation of a republican government to the present. Only white, property-owning males were allowed in governmental matters during and after the making of the Constitution. The founding fathers didn’t foresee women and people of color being granted power to vote. Even with Rome’s prosperity with a republican government, they gradually lost all democratic values and became a dictatorship. As John Adams declared, "[D]emocracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide." Paradoxically, Athens had too much democracy, and failed to make decisions during a crisis such as wartime operations. Sparta on the other hand, was too involved with the common good that they lacked individual rights and became an oligarchy that let elitists rule. This proved to be difficult and ultimately lead to the demise of their society. However that may be, we recognize the faults within a democracy and accept them as it is. George Mason makes it a clear statement, “Notwithstanding the oppressions and injustice experienced among us from democracy, the genius of the people must be consulted.” Therefore, asserting that a republican is the least imperfect democracy and that the people’s voice
More so, political equality was tremendously different from the formation of a republican government to the present. Only white, property-owning males were allowed in governmental matters during and after the making of the Constitution. The founding fathers didn’t foresee women and people of color being granted power to vote. Even with Rome’s prosperity with a republican government, they gradually lost all democratic values and became a dictatorship. As John Adams declared, "[D]emocracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide." Paradoxically, Athens had too much democracy, and failed to make decisions during a crisis such as wartime operations. Sparta on the other hand, was too involved with the common good that they lacked individual rights and became an oligarchy that let elitists rule. This proved to be difficult and ultimately lead to the demise of their society. However that may be, we recognize the faults within a democracy and accept them as it is. George Mason makes it a clear statement, “Notwithstanding the oppressions and injustice experienced among us from democracy, the genius of the people must be consulted.” Therefore, asserting that a republican is the least imperfect democracy and that the people’s voice