The rise of modern democracy

Europe was forever changed after the discovery of America in 1492. The rulers of Europe sent fleets of ships to explore new areas and to set up colonies that

would benefit their homelands. However, England, Spain, France, and other governments were too far away from their colonies to rule them effectively. The colonies often needed their own governments to oversee trade and to protect their people. The people in these colonies grew increasingly unhappy with the countries that governed the colonies. One reason was a matter of religion. Many colonists, such as the Pilgrims, had come to America because they were mistreated for their beliefs in England and other countries. They viewed America as place where they could practice their religion safely.

But the main reason why the colonists were dissatisfied with England was because they did not feel represented by the government. The English colonies were subject to English law, but there were no representatives from the colonies in Parliament. The king of England repeatedly refused to grant greater powers to his colonies. By the mid-18th century, a series of protests among the colonists gave way to a movement for independence. This led to the American Revolution.

Once the colonists gained independence, it took more than a decade for government to take its shape in the young United States. By 1789, the country had a constitution in place. The first three words of the constitution, “We the people,” indicate that the government is democratic. Unfortunately, as in ancient Greece thousands of years earlier, democracy in the early United States did not mean that everyone was represented. Women and slaves were not allowed to vote. African Americans would not gain the right to vote until 1870, and they were often prevented from voting due to unfair and racist laws until the 1960s. Women did not gain the right to vote in the United States until 1920.

2. Ответьте на вопросы к тексту:

1. Where was the earliest form of democracy?

2. What is a representative democracy?

3. Why was the earliest form of democracy in ancient Greece not entirely democratic?

4. What happened in 1492?

5. Were England, Spain, France, too far away from their colonies?

6. Why did the people in these colonies grow increasingly unhappy with the countries that governed the colonies?

7. What was the main reason why the colonists were dissatisfied with England?

8. What events led to the American Revolution?

9. Did the USA have a constitution in place by 1780 or by 1789?

10. Did the democracy in the USA mean that everyone was represented?

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