Developing Democracies In The Seventeenth Century

Developing Democracies Throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries there was strong debate between common people and leaders as to what the most effective form of government was. Countries from England to France fought back and forth on whether democracy or absolutism was the more efficient form of government. Even to this day it is clear that democracies earned this title, as even modern day societies have democracies, while fewer countries maintain an absolute monarchy. Unlike absolutism, democracies grant citizens that monarchies don’t allow for. These freedoms include freedom of speech, religion, press, and the right to take action against a government that disregards their rights. Additionally, democracies provide a necessary
They often treated the country very poorly, but citizens were forced to live with it because monarchs claimed being monarch was their divine right. However, democracies often supported and fought to uphold the freedoms of the people. “The best government seems to be that in which all ranks of men are equally protected by the laws”(4).A system in which not all people are protected in, is a flawed one. The introduction of democracy to Europe in the seventeenth century solved this issue. The philosophers of the time believed strongly in the rights of the people, and through democracy many of these rights became obtainable. “I may disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it” (4). Voltaire defends the right to the freedom of speech, a right that can be found as the first amendment in the U.S. constitution. Democracies allowed for common people to have a say in the government. This allowed for people such as philosophers to incorporate the freedom of speech, religion, and press into government. However, democracy also allowed for the people to take action when the government was