Republicanism in British America

Republicanism in British America

The history of the United States represents one of the most important and interesting aspects of our civilization. Several elements were combined in achieving the degree of development which characterizes the current situation in the United States. Nonetheless, the early history of the British colonies was essential for the way in which the history of the region evolved. Therefore, the role of the republican thought was felt from the early beginnings of the nation's history and is present to this day. However, these elements manifested themselves at all the levels of the society and especially in the political framework.

One of the most important aspects to be taken into consideration is related to the issue of the human rights. It included the right of the individual to be free and to enjoy the same rights as all citizens (Jenkins, 1997). This was an important aspect for the way in which mentalities could have been changed at the level of the middle of the 18th century. More precisely, the American colonies were under the strict control of the British Empire and were reluctant to endure the same treatment from the colonial power. Therefore, the major sources of distress for the U.S. colonies included in fact the right to a democratic system.

In general terms, republicanism refers to "many common ideas and concerns, such as the importance of civic virtue and political participation, the dangers of corruption, and the benefits of a mixed constitution and the rule of law" (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2006). These principles have their origin in the old beliefs of Ancient Greece and Rome which pointed out the most important aspects of what Plato and Aristotle considered to be the republic. Although the actual virtues of the works of Plato have been developed in time, there are several aspects which are still essential for the American republican thought. Some of the most important writers in this sense are Jefferson and Madison, among others. Still, for the history of the United States it is important that some of the best known Founding Fathers were adherents of this policy because this was the direction of the development of the country.

The slogan "no taxation without representation" is a relevant example for pointing out the fact that the early notions of republicanism focused on the mere idea of equality among the subjects of the empire. Thus, after the war with the French the British considered the taxation of the American people as a good source for income. In this sense, it introduced several taxes which in the end came to be considered an actual burden for the tax payer. The Empire decided to test the allegiance of the colonies by applying all sorts of additional taxes such as the Sugar Act or the Stamp Act, along with an increase in the way in which taxes were actually gathered (From Revolution to Reconstruction, 2006). The major problem however was the fact that the U.S. considered this aspect to be in the breach of the basic human rights of the individual. Therefore, this fact brought up the discussions over human rights and the inalienable rights of the individual to express their opinion on the decisions taken in Britain. Thus, the first issue to be considered as a sign of a new democratic, but republican political process was the idea of the representativeness in the legislative body.

Such aspects led to the American Revolution, the first sign of rebellion from the British Empire. This was an important moment because it underlined the definite breakaway from the Empire, from the political to the social and economic aspects. However, even the Revolution came as a result of the political situation in the country. The American Revolution is considered to be the birth point of the first real republic in the world (Cunliffe, 2003). Indeed, history has seen a series of republics, yet the American republic is based on the actual principles and values a democracy should be built on. In this sense, the fact that the U.S. colonies rebelled against the British Empire was a clear sign of the fact that they could no longer endure the risks and oppressions of the Empire, as well as the political submission. Unlike the ideas of the British which stated that the sovereign was the king, in the Republican line of thought "there was no one sovereign, the people collectively were the sovereigns. In July 1776, immediately after the Declaration of Independence, spontaneous popular ceremonies were staged up and down the land. In several of them, royal crests and other emblems were broken into pieces and distributed among the crowd" (Cunliffe, 2003). Therefore, taking into account these signs of manifestation, it was clear that the U.S. colonies were no longer willing to accept a superior power other than that of the people.

In relation to the idea of the sovereignty of the people which is today described as democracy, the issue of the equality of rights stands out. In this sense, according to most beliefs, the rights of women were discussed and the mere mentioning of them underlines the need and desire for equality (Cunliffe, 2003). At the same time, it is important to consider the fact that some of the first real Republicans from the Republican Party were the promoters of the exclusion of slaves from the Colonies (Jenkins, 1007). This comes as a result of the need for equality but at the same time as a sign of economic practices and differences between the North and the South which would later be tackled through the Civil War. Still, it is important to consider that the desire of the equality of men was an essential republican ideal.

The 1788 Constitution is a crucial step in the framing of the republican values in America. An endeavor which started with the first days of the Enlightenment and continues to this day gave birth to what is still viewed as the best document related to democracy. This is largely due to the fact that it encompasses all the moral values of the republican beliefs and at the same time it offers a comprehensive coverage of the way in which the needs of the individuals as well as the needs of the states are catered for in the Union. Therefore, "Madison suggested that the very extent and variety of interests within the vast American union would disperse and dispel the factious clashes that had proved fatal to the "petty republics" of the past" (Cunliffe, 2003). Therefore, there is the distinction between ancient republics and the American one because of the different historical circumstances which determined the writing of the Constitution.