More Democratic Society

Contributing to a More Democratic Society The Zenger Case, the Great Awakening, and immigration contributed greatly to a more Democratic society. The Zenger Case contributed more to the winning freedom of press while immigration allowed more freedom of religion and the Great Awakening gave people the idea of making their own political decisions. The Great Awakening greatly influenced a democratic society in the colonies. The Great Awakening had a democratizing effect on the way colonists viewed authority. As more people started reading the Bible at home, the minister’s power declined. People started making their own religious decisions and began to think that they could start making their own political decisions without referring to the great landowners and merchants. This idea would later challenge the king’s and governors’ authority. Immigration also lead to a more democratic society. Immigrants were allowed to follow their own religion, and also got land for leaving their home countries. Immigrants were usually indentured servants when they arrived but helped out with their society after their servitude was over. Immigrants came to seek religious freedom, like French Protestants running from the crown. With the need for religious freedom also came the need for political freedom. Immigrants also escaped the social class extremes of Europe. Lack of hereditary aristocracy in the colonies also led to a system of democracy in America. The Zenger Case contributed to a more democratic society with the introduction of freedom of press. Newspapers ran the risk of being jailed for offending a political authority. When Zenger was brought for trial in 1735, his lawyer argued that what he printed was true of the governor of New York. The jury voted in Zenger’s favor and newspapers were further encouraged to speak up and write to truth. The case did not guarantee complete freedom of press but it was the event that sparked the interest.
The Great Awakening, the