CHARACTERISTICS OF DEMOCRACY / UNDEMOCRACY IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES--

Q: Colonial society was characterized by both democratic and undemocratic elements. To what extent would you agree with this statement?

A: During the 1600s and 1700s, England was at work settling the eastern coast of North America. Spain, which had recently suffered the critical defeat of its highly acclaimed Armada, was busy holding back Dutch revolts and was also slowly on its way to decline. As a result, Spain's grip on the East Indies (or the Caribbean) loosened, and England was able to ship various slaves to their new colonies while also profiting in the slave business. As more unfortunate people were made prisoners, colonies with new, radical ideas emerged (such as Pennsylvania and Rhode Island, both known for their tolerance), freeing people from their religious (or in the Native Americans' case, prisoner-like) shackles. Thus, one would be correct in stating that colonial society exhibited both democratic and undemocratic elements.

Various democratic characteristics could already be seen in some of the colonies. Connecticut was in fact the very first colony to create a constitution. As limited as this constitution was (swearing allegiance to the king, differing itself from England only religiously), it was still a small step that would ultimately lead to democracy in North America and complete separation from its mother state, England-- a prospect that at this point in time had not even crossed the colonist's minds. Also, some of the colonies had already begun to adopt meeting houses in their settlements. These meeting houses were places where the villagers could talk of various issues plaguing the town, or hold trials if needed. So, as one can clearly see, the seeds of democracy had already been planted, and it would not be long before North America would realize they could be free of England forever.

Of course, the main reason why many of the colonists had come to the New World in the first place was because they sought religious freedom, something England did not possess. Thus the Pilgrim Separatists freed themselves from the Church of England and its corruption, the Quakers went off to establish their own colonies (East New Jersey, West New Jersey, Delaware and so on), and people of other religions made their way to Rhode Island or Pennsylvania, where they could not be persecuted for their beliefs. Tolerance for other people's religious beliefs today is still a major characteristic of democracy.

But alas, not everyone believed in the same things then, and people were either killed or exiled for their beliefs if they differed from those of the colonists. Puritans hung Quakers for their outrageous religious views (such as the notion that one did not need to attend church to have a relationship with God, an idea that would have brought down the Puritan church, which, ironically, was the cause of its own downfall anyway), Native Americans were killed or taken captive, and slaves were treated as though they were not even human beings. One must also mention the Salem witchcraft trials, which took place in Massachusetts, where the Puritans lived. People suspected of witchcraft were hanged on such ludicrous evidence like the victims having seen "spectral" images or the defendant having been known to be quick to anger. The Salem witch trials were merely an opportunity for the Puritans to make scapegoats of those they disliked or feared. One can therefore see nondemocratic elements in North America as well.

In summary, colonial North American society displayed characteristics of both democracy (with religious tolerance and meetings for villagers to decide on controversial issues, or even the House of Burgesses in Virginia, though it did not last long) and undemocracy (such as Native Americans and Africans being forced to work as slaves, the Quakers being persecuted for their beliefs, or the supposed "witches" being hanged on evidence that was, at best, blatantly ridiculous). North America was obviously a place of different beliefs and peoples that would later become a "salad bowl" of varied cultures, as it is today.

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