America s Struggle For Democracy Essay - 1912 Words

As stated in The Struggle for Democracy, the U.S. is a representative democracy, also known as a republic (). In this system of government, unlike a direct democracy in which all citizens vote on all public matters, elected representatives govern the people. The U.S. system consists of three separate governing branches, executive, judicial, and legislative, which all hold checks and balances on one another. These checks and balances were meant to ensure the U.S. would be as democratic as possible and prohibit one branch from gaining too much power. Throughout America’s history, the system has predominantly been a success. In the world today, the United States is looked upon as a bastion for democratic principles. The U.S. State Department itself ardently embraces the lofty goals of promoting democracy around the world, assisting those in foreign lands who wish to establish democracies, and denouncing regimes that deny citizens their rightful ability to conduct and participate in free, fair, and transparent elections (). Americans at large also support democracy enthusiastically. A myriad of citizen ardently proclaim the U.S.’s democratic ideals and the freedoms they allow qualify the U.S. to be the greatest country in the world. While parts of this is true-the U.S. is indeed a global advocate of spreading democracy and Americans enjoy many freedoms not privy to citizens living under repressive regimes such as Saudi Arabia or Pakistan-the American political system as a wholeShow MoreRelatedThe Concept Of American Democracy1699 Words   |  7 Pages Democracy is perhaps the most elusive concept of all times. But if there has to be something more elusive, it will surely be the concept of American democracy. In 1858, Abraham Lincoln is known to have written:  ¨As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master †¦ This expresses my idea of democracy. Whoever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy. ¨ The initial understanding of American democracy takes the form of an antithesis of English colonialism and slaveryRead MoreAmerican Foreign Policy After The Great Depression1390 Words   |  6 Pagesand socially challenging home front crisis of the Great Depression kept American citizens and politicians busy with domestic policy. Additionally the disillusionment of people with WWI caused America to avoid war at all costs. However, the rising threat of fascism in Europe forced America to defend democracy and help its allies. The first shift was seen when foreign policy in the 1920s had moved to isolationism in large part due to WWI. WWI in the eyes of the American people had been an extremeRead MorePoverty And The American Dream933 Words   |  4 Pagestrying to find a way to get out. The Inequality gap in America has increased for the past few decades. Resulting from Economic Inequality in America, 400 Americans share more than 50% of America’s total wealth. These 400 Americans are the Top 1%. While the Top 1% are living luxurious lives, the Bottom 99% is struggling to make ends meet. Inequality is nothing new to the United States. In fact, it is a serious problem for America’s Economy, Democracy and the Middle Class. Economic Inequality is the thingRead MoreThe President Is Responsible For Shaping Foreign Policy768 Words   |  4 PagesMoriah Riley American Government II Professor Garrison May 5, 2016 Forced Democracy The president is responsible for shaping foreign policy. He meets with leaders of other nations to solve problems and make peace. He, or she, meets with foreign ambassadors and negotiates treaties and personally find agreements. The Constitution states that the president signs treaties with other countries that are participating in the foreign policy. The Senate has the power to ratify treaties but 2/3 vote is requiredRead MoreStruggles and Setbacks of Developing Democracies in Latin American Countries 1477 Words   |  6 Pagesto remain oppressed throughout history and stand on a slippery slope towards democratic reform of their national governments. The impeded development of democracy in these countries is much derived from Spanish empirical forms, reigning from the colonial era in which Spanish conquistadores implemented the first forms of government in Latin America based off of the authoritative structure of power that was brought over seas and applied in the â€Å"new-worldà ¢â‚¬ . (Zabludovsky, 1989) explains how theoriesRead MoreThe Cold War And The Soviet Union s Sphere Of Influence1611 Words   |  7 PagesThe public s fear of the destruction of mankind at the hands of two rival, nuclear powers was manifested in American dystopian fiction written during the Cold War. Suspicion of the Soviet Union s communist intentions combined with the possibility of military catastrophe (Kissinger, 15) inspired novelists to document the complex relationships between The United State and Russia, democracy and communism, and man and technology. The Cold War era as depicted in dystopian novels of the time wasRead MoreThe Impact of the Cold War on Developing Nations Essay1175 Words   |  5 Pagesearly 1940’s to late 1990’s. United States wanted to flex its political muscle and try to curtail the spread of Soviet Communism in the developing nations. Most of the nations in developed world had already made their political and socio-economic stand regarding the form of governance and leadership pursued. Underdeveloped nations in Asia, Latin America and Africa were still vulnerable and easily influenced in terms of ideologies and political direction. Most nations in Latin America like ChileRead MoreLangston Hughes : Black Poets Impact On African American Literature857 Words   |  4 Pagesis literature written from African descents that focused on the early time to recent time movements. Early as the 1700’s and late as the 1900’s where African American literature was in progress. Poetry was a substa ntial part of African American literature, because black poets talked about culture, racism, slavery, and equality rights. Black poets expressed their views, struggles, and influenced others at times in several movements in African American literature. Langston Hughes stood as a literaryRead MoreThe Segregation Of The South1386 Words   |  6 PagesAfrican Americans to promote change. WWII was fought to keep the world safe for democracy. The Nazi’s were looking to promote their ‘pure’ race and to take over all that they could. That, and what happens in the near future, the Holocaust, goes against all that democracy stands for. Yet, in the country of America, there was the Jim Crow laws and the obvious racism in the North. How would America fight for democracy when in the country there was racist regulations just like Nazi Germany? This paradoxRead MoreAmerica s Essential Documents Of America1644 Words   |  7 Pagesthere s ever been, and it’s true we’ve had some pretty terrible presidents. But those weaker presidents didn’t leave a lasting impression on our country. Only those presidents that were strong and stood for or against something are remembered and studied. This doesn’t just apply to presidents, but to any great men. As great men or women come into our society and make a difference we all grow as a natio n and every nation is different depending on its history. The United states of America has grown