Chapter 1
Principles of Government
and Politics
Section 2
Introducing American
Democracy
Origins of American
Democracy
 Ancient Athens, Greece
• Some people were granted
citizenship.
• All citizens had to participate.
 The Middle Ages, Europe
 Divine right of kings was
established. (Absolute authority
given to kings by God.)
• Privileged groups (for
example, nobles) were
given rights.
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Continuing toward
American Democracy
 Protestant Reformation
• Supporters challenged
authority of Roman Catholic
Church and broke away with
revolutionary religious ideas.
• Traditional religion challenged.
 The Enlightenment
• Idea that humans could gain
knowledge and understanding
of the world through reason.
• Creative thinking and ideas
developed.
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John Locke and the
Social Contract Theory
 John Locke: A philosopher who supported a contract
between people and government, not democracy
 Social contract: The idea that people freely exchange
some rights for governmental protection
Contract breaks = Government fails to protect
people’s rights
People’s consent = Legitimate government authority
People had the right to remove government leaders who
were not fulfilling their duties.
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John Locke’s Ideas Influence
Founding Fathers
 Locke wrote while the Constitutional
Convention met.
“When any one, or more, shall
take upon them to make laws
without authority, which the
people are not therefore bound to
obey; by which means they come
again to be out of subjection, and
may institute to themselves a
new legislature.” (Locke’s Second
Treatise of Civil Government)
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Characteristics of American
Democracy
 Popular sovereignty: Is based on the idea that people are
a source of power to government (Republic)
 Republican democracy: Uses representation
• Madison: Wanted representative government to cool
public passions
• Founders: Wanted representatives to be older, wiser
than average citizen
 Limited government: Limits governmental actions
• Constitution dictates which kinds of laws can be passed
 Rule of law: Says all people must obey law of the land
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Characteristics of American
Democracy
 Common good: The protection of individual rights and
liberties while at the same time helping society
 Equality as an inalienable right for all
• Not actually written into the Constitution until 1868
when the Fourteenth Amendment guaranteed all
citizens equal protection under the law.
 Majority rule balanced by protection of minority rights
 Compromise: Give and take in political bargaining
• Allows people with different interests to agree on
common goals.
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Your Turn
Which of the following characteristics of American
Democracy are most important? Rank them from 1 to 8,
with 1 being most important.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
Popular sovereignty
Limited government
The rule of law
Individual liberty
The common good
Equality
Majority rule / protection of minority rights
Compromise
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Then versus Now
 James Madison designed the
republic in reaction to
colonists’ self-interest.
 People act for the public good
because it often benefits them
personally.
 Madison believed property
owners were key because
they had the most to gain and
lose from government.
 Question: How do we
behave as citizens today?
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U.S. Citizens Today
 Political Knowledge
• Most know who is president but do not recognize other
elected officials.
 Ideology: set of ideas about politics, economy, & society.
• An increasing number call themselves independents.
• People with strong ideology judge on consistent beliefs.
• Extremist views do NOT have wide support.
 Tolerance
• Acceptance of others helps things run smoothly.
 Participation
• Middle and upper classes are increasingly involved in
government.
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Your Turn
Does decreased participation mark a civic crisis in our
democracy? Choose the answer that best matches your
response. Be ready to explain your reasoning.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Strongly yes
Moderately yes
Undecided
Moderately no
Strongly no
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