Abraham Lincoln Despotism

Abraham Lincoln Despotism
"There is no reason in the world why the negro is not entitled to all the natural rights enumerated in the Declaration of Independence – the right to life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I hold that he is as much entitled to these as the white man." ~Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) was born in Kentucky. He served as the 16th president of the United States during the Civil War era (a.k.a. The War
Between the States). He eventually moved to Illinois, where he established a retiring law practice and served as a state legislator. He was elected to
Congress in 1846, but did not seek a possible reelection. Lincoln was one of the very people who believed that America could be a great place to live,
if everyone treated each other ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
If one misuses the power that has been granted to him, it can lead to despotism. Slavery is an example of despotism; one can have dominion over
another person. When Great Britain colonized and ruled over many countries long ago including the United States and India, it was an example of
autocracy. Lincoln often spoke eloquently about the Declaration of Independence as the touchstone of American values, but contemporary social
attitudes did as much as the principles of the founding to shape his views on racial relations. The main purpose of the Declaration of Independence
written by Jefferson was to announce the colonies' separation from England. It also stated the principles that were the foundation for seeking
independence. In a speech criticizing the "Dred Scott" decision, Lincoln emphasized that the Declaration set a standard of universal equality for the
benefit of future generations. He said that decision was "based on assumed historical facts which were not really true; and I ought not to leave the
subject without giving some reasons for saying thisНѕ I therefore give an instance or two, which I think fully sustain me. Chief Justice Taney [...] insists
at great length that [Negroes] were no part of the people who made, or for whom was made, the Declaration of Independence, or the Constitution of the
United States" (Lincoln, Speech on the Dred Scott Decision in Springfield, Illinois). Lincoln noted Judge Curtis's opinion showing that in five of the
thirteen original states, the freed Blacks were among the White people, who took part in the voting on the Constitution (Lincoln, Speech on the Dred
Scott Decision in Springfield, Illinois). The judge made the following conclusion, while quoting from the US
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Despotism
The presidential system of government was created by the English immigrants who came to the East Coast of the United States to escape the excesses
of the crown. When declared independence and wrote its constitution, the objective was to avoid despotism both legislative and executive absolutism.
"The first presidential system there is found in the American constitution of 1787. This fundamental law set up a new type of relations between the
executive and legislative branches, which resulted in a presidential regime and for this reason, it was felt that the Constitution American presidential
system structures the classic, pure or par excellence. "
"A mid–nineteenth century, Walter Bagehot in The Ingles Constitution used the term to designate the presidential system of government of theUnited
States in ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
That is why citizen participation is important not only in the election through universal suffrage, but also in the performance of government activities,
ie, involvement and engagement in public affairs, the citizens are properly informed. "The city in general is the individual who has a stake in the
authority and obedience in public ... in the perfect republic is the individual who is able and willing freely to obey and to rule on in accordance with
the precepts of virtue."
Classification of presidential systems as Loewenstein.
1. Pure presidentialism: Those are the hallmarks of the Mexican system, ie the executive branch is above the other two organs of government.
2. Attenuated presidentialism: are those where power is exercised jointly by the president and his ministers, who are organized as a cabinet.
3. Weak presidentialism: Those which have tried to reduce executive influence, incorporating elements either parliament or the executive admitting

Despotism In Julius Caesar
Cassius, As a young man he studied philosophy in Greece and was known for his opposition against despotism. Gaius Cassius, in William
Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, reflects the hopes, fears and the expectations of the Ancient Greek Culture because he is easily threatened
like the Greeks. The Ancient Greek Culture, a very unique culture, is filled with many expectations, hopes, and fears. For instance, the Greeks were
very powerful and many other empires rising they were constantly under a threat. According to Jimmy Stevenson, a student at Iowa State University, in
his article, "Ares: A God without Honor.", explains, "Ancient Greece was a civilization that dominated much of the Mediterranean... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
Gaius Cassius was easily threatened by Julius Caesar due to him having more power and the fear of him expanding, while the Greeks were
threatened by rising empires such as the Persians because they thought they had more power and were going to be a threat to them. Paul Cartledge,
the former A.G, Levant's Professor of Greek Culture at the University of Cambridge, in his article "The Democratic Explains", explains, "Power to
the people, all the people, especially the poor majority, remained the guiding principle of Athenian Democracy." The Greek's formed a government
called a democracy, the belief in power to the people. He reflects the Greeks because they thought and acted the same, they all decided that the power
should be within the people and not within

Napoleon's Central Tenets Of Enlightened Despotism
There is much debate over the issue of Napoleons 'Enlightened Despotism'. Some state that he clearly could not have been one, as he unquestionably
rejected one of the central tenets of enlightened despotism, that of a belief and compliance with the principles of enlightenment. However, when
regarding Napoleon and his action as a whole, his policies and intentions fall enough in line with the aims and views of a traditional enlightened
despot, to the point where we may judge him as one, and compare him to others. So why is the topic of Napoleons Enlightened despotism relevant
when discussing his policies of centralized control in france?
Well, the establishment of this will allow us to place his policies of centralised control into a relative context and as such analyze the extent to which
they were successful. His policies of centralized control were much the same as enlightened despots before him, such as Jacob of Austria and
Catherine the great of Russia, both of which employed a system of centralized government to great effect (both positive and negative). But the results
of Napoleons centralized government greatly differ from that of Jacob or Catherine, and this is a result of the unique position in which Napoleon found
himself. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Napoleon came to power at a time of instability, when people were longing for a strong leader whom they could look up to, as the directory (the
ruling body in france at the time) was seen as weak willed, and generally not

Thomas Hobbes Despotism
After attending the press conference on January 18, 1783 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Nine political philosophers advocated their views on the best
form of government. They have reached a consensus. The most focal being Thomas Hobbes' views on the relationship of the governed and the
authority, King Louis's stance on an absolute ruler, and William Laud's premise of religious applications ingovernment. Therefore, the best form of
government is one of an absolute sovereign.
Thomas Hobbes promoted despotism in which the common man is, by all means, submissive to the unquestionable decision maker. For instance, he
claims that men are selfish in their natural state. Hobbes emphasizes that "The condition of man... is a condition of war of everyone against everyone."
This freedom spurs chaos and insecurity. This leads us to his "Social Contract" theory. Hobbes argues that people should surrender their rights that limit
another's to the governing body in exchange for security. In other words, since men are inherently driven to act by their wants, a tacit agreement
between men and the monarch is made to shield them from their wickedness. Lastly, Hobbes states that a division of power will cause internal conflict
within government. To put it in another way, there will always be debate in compromise. Therefore, the nation will... Show more content on
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He thoroughly believed in the divine right of kings. Likewise, if you didn't, you were a bad christian. Laud also supported the principles of the Book
of Common Prayer which supported obedience to god. Nonetheless, Laud voiced for religious uniformity. He feared that the church would lose its
influence. To infer, Laud suggested to solely rely on the teachings of the anglican church, thereby increasing the influence of the church and the king.
Since the king was a prophet from god, he therefore should be the ruler. Essentially, if the common people revolt, they were straying away from

The Tradition Of Dogma And Despotism
Throughout the period dubbed the long century between 1685–1815. Scientific, political and philosophical understanding experienced a radical
reconstruction. The venerable traditions of dogma and despotism began to be denounced and rebutted. Age–old political institutions became the focal
point of intellectual discussion and the ideas developed from these debates formed the fundamental components of modern democracy and
Communism. When discussing the Enlightenment, it is worthy to note that it did not occur in one geographical location in a short space of time, but
more rather spanned across many countries such as Germany, England and France. The Enlightenment and its thinkers inspired revolutions in England,
America and France, which marked the end of area that untimely gave way to Romanticism. Due to the vast assortment of philosophical ideas, this
essay aims to portray the developments in political thought as a set of general strands of thought, as appose to precise theories. This essay can be seen
as a discussion of the origins, nature and contested status of the most important strands of political thought spawned of this era with a consideration of
the affects such ideas have had on the political organization of civilisations. As Skinner, Pocock and Collini noted, in order to understand the
development of aforementioned ideas the context in which they were derived from must first be understood and related to contemporary conceptual
paradigms and Ideological debate .

Islamic Thought: Despotism Replacing Despotism
Princeton Readings in Islamic Thought
Despotism Replacing Despotism
In the introduction to "Princeton Readings in Islamic Thought" by Roxanne Euben and Muhammad Zaman, the editors give a broad overview of
Islamism and what it constitutes as an Islamist. The conclusion the authors come to is that Islamism is a movement that "attempts to return to the
scriptural foundations of the Muslim community..." (Euben, Zaman page 4). Essentially, Islamism is a restoration of norms derived from the Quran,
called sharia law. As a function ofIslam and sharia law, Islamists are very hands on. Islamists like Ruhollah Khomeini and Hassan al–Turabi aren't mere
theologians but politicians that seek fulfillment of their visions. Islamists believe firmly that the only true way to realize their vision of "authentic
Islam" is through an Islamic state, dominated by sharia law. Naturally, with the formation of a state, a government is needed to perform a variety of
functions. Islamists go as far to say that the only way to achieve true Islam is through an Islamic state dominated by sharia law. (QUOTE?) Thus,
Islamism and politics are one in the same, and the Islamism can be seen as a religio–political movement. In the introduction, the editors bring special
attention to the relationship between Islamism and democracy. Because of the tenuous and complicated relationship between western secular
"democratic" governments and the Islamic state's theocratic government, the editors pay special attention to

Dulles Despotism
In his speech to the Congress of Industrial Organizations, "The Moral Initiative," Dulles warned members attending the meeting, "We cannot, however,
ignore the hazards created by international communism, which plots to pervert nationalism to its own imperialistic ends." Dulles felt that it was the
responsibility of the free world to stand up against the despotism of Communism in the speech he continues:
The great weakness of despotism has been, is, and always will be, its disregard of the rights of man. Despotism can always be routed if free men
exploit that weakness. If our example can illumine again the great advantages of a free society, then Soviet communism will lose its deceptive appeal ...
This quest for liberty must be simultaneously ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
There is not a single country in this hemisphere which has not been penetrated by the apparatus of International Communism ... The Communist
conspiracy is not to be taken lightly. It's agents operate under the iron discipline of the Soviet Communist Party acting as the self–proclaimed "General
Staff of the World Proletariat." The agents themselves, in order to gain a following pretend to be reformists seeking to eradicate the evils which exist
in any society.
Dulles attempted to use the same tactic he had with the American people by frightening them of the horrors of Communism. While some of the
members of the conference needed little persuasions, others were convinced by his speeches despite not being wholly concerned with the idea of
communism. Without Dulles persistence, the Caracas Conference could have ended on a drastically different

How Did Alexis De Tocqueville Influence Town Government
Alexis de Tocqueville's Influence
Alexis de Tocqueville's observation of the American prison system brought out several interesting facts about America and how it governs itself. He
talks of the danger of greed for money, the importance of forming associations, and the power of influence in town government. Although many of his
observations have since changed, many of them bring about legitimate points about American government and society.
In de Tocqueville's book Democracy in America, he is quoted as saying, "...I know of no other country where love of money has such a grip on men's
hearts or where stronger scorn is expressed for the theory of permanent equality of property." In ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
I believe we have been successful as a country in doing this. We have learned that we must rely on one another in order to meet all of our needs to the
best of our own abilities.
de Tocqueville also points out how powerful personal influence can be in town government. Consider his quote, "In towns it is impossible to prevent
men from assembling, getting excited together and forming sudden passionate resolves. Towns are like great meeting houses with all the inhabitants as
members. In them the people wield immense influence over their magistrates and often carry their desires into execution without intermediaries." He
is pointing out that local government will almost always find ways to get around larger government because of the immediate interest of residents. In
reality, it is the people that run the government because they have the ability to remove elected representatives if they aren't getting things done the
way the people want. The problem is, many people fail to realize this fact and just don't vote. The want to blame the problems of the country on the
elected officials although they are the ones that did, or in some cases, did not, vote for the person who will make the voice of the people heard.
I think overall, de Tocqueville's view of America was right on key with many of my personal views. I agree

Powerful Enlightened Depots
Enlightened despotism is defined as "a form of government in the 18th century in which absolute monarchs pursued legal, social, and educational
reforms inspired by the Enlightenment" (The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica). The magnitude of the philosophy movement known as the
Enlightenment sent ripples throughout Western society. The philosophers believed that in order to improve society they had to "enlighten" the
monarchs. The views of the Enlightenment did to find their way inside the palaces of Europe's leaders; however, the monarchs retained their great
power of absolute rule. Among these enlightened despots of the age were Frederick the Great of Prussia, Catherine the Great of Russia, and Joseph II
of Austria. These leaders all attempted to bring their respective countries into a new age. The basis of enlightened despotism was the idea of improving
the lives of a country's citizens. This concept of leadership during this time was ultimately a good idea, but it was not successfully exercised to its
fullest extent. From a young age, Frederick the Great took a great liking to culture and literature. He was especially infatuated with the language and
lifestyle of the French. The French philosopher Voltairewas a friend to Frederick and had a great influence on his Enlightenment ideals. He initially hid
his love of the Enlightenment during his reign, but later he began to realize how the philosophies of the movement could actually advance and fortify
his state. He

Alexis De Tocqueville's Democracy In America
Alexis De Tocqueville wrote Democracy in America while visiting the country from France. During his stay, he observed the government and its
strengths and flaws. He recorded his findings and published them in Democracy in America. His book details many aspects of the American
government, but is most notably known for his opinion on the tyranny of the majority and the potential despotism that could arise. Tocqueville's
concerns for the American government could be seen as addressed in the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment. Tocqueville expresses the fear of a
tyranny of the majority in a democracy. Tocqueville describes the idea of a majority by stating, "it is the very essence of democratic government that
the majority has absolute sway, for in a democracy nothing resists the majority," (Vol. 1, PT 2, Chapter 7... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The ratification of this amendment applied the Bill of Rights to the states. In doing so, Tocqueville's concern of a tyranny of the majority at the state
level is now combatted. He established his view that the creation of the United States Constitution involved more intelligence than the development of
state constitutions. He believed that the national constitution discussed factions in a more effective way. With the enumerated regulations on factions
now applying to the states, the possibility of the majority gaining too much power is now diminishing. The lack of protections within the states is now
no more. The Fourteenth Amendment protects the rights of the people without giving administrative power to the federal government, but gives more
power to the federal government. Though the federal government is gaining some power, decentralization of the administration persists. This
eliminates the fear that the majority can do away with the minority's rights, as well as have centralized power that includes legislative and
implementation

Acid Despotism Affecting North America
Acid Despotism affecting North America
Acid despotism means the rain, snow, and hail; have all been made sufficiently acidic by atmospheric pollution that will inevitably cause
environmental harm. How the the atmosphere becomes polluted is from NOx's, SOx's and CO2. These source evaporate into the atmosphere and
accumulate. North America has a wind pattern that moves from west to east so all the atmospheric pollution moves to the east. Normal atmospheric
pH is 5.5; according to the graph all of the brown is sitting at 5.5 pH level. The blue parts in the graph shows where the pH is lower and is
atmosphere is more acidic. Provinces that are not part of the precambrian shield, like Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, are hardest hit because ...
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For a water system that had become far to acidic and nothing is living. A process called freshwater de–acidification will spring the the water into
becoming healthy again. The process starts with add the lime directly to the water body. However in the cases of certain lakes where the
turnaround is very quick, the lime is added to the body of water. This has disadvantages though, the main one being that the lime can have an
adverse effect on wetland species of plants The advantages, however, are that the effects are longer lasting and metals are prevented from leaching
into the lake water from the soil. The alkalinity of the limed lake is increased, the pH increased and heavy metal concentrations decrease back to
within safe limits for fish life. The number of species of fish, animals and plankton increases as does biomass production. The chemical equation for
liming water is CaCO3(s) + H2SO4(aq) в‡Ё CaSO4*2H2O + CO2(g). If your soil or forest becomes too acidic a process called liming will help. Soil
pH is a measure of the relative acidity or alkalinity in soils. It is a fundamental chemical property because it influences the availability of nutrients and
the solubility of elements like aluminum and manganese, which are detrimental to crop

Essay on De Tocqueville
Alexis De Tocqueville, Democracy in America
Aristocracy is a phenomenon that is perhaps as natural a summer crop, and as devastating as the locusts that eat it. De Tocqueville&#8217;s
position on aristocracy is quite clear. He is a strong advocate of the aristocracy, it is a part of thenatural order and necessary. His position may have
some basis, however I have yet to see the &#8220;upside'; of a caste system or a good defense of it.
De Tocqueville believes that aristocracy provides stability and fellowship. De Tocqueville&#8217;s support of aristocracy is weak and ill founded.
His first point of aristocracy is that of stability, &#8220;Among aristocratic ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
A community bound by social class is often referred to as a slaving society. The people at the bottom of this system are indebted to those above with
nowhere else to turn. The man who is bound to another of a higher class is most likely to be exploited, for in an aristocratic society one has only the
aristocrats to turn to for justice. Unfortunately, a man needs justice most when he is mistreated by the aristocracy.
The aristocracy is &#8220;closely attached to something placed out of their own sphere,'; is another idea that De Tocqueville had of the
aristocracy. In reality, the aristocracy probably had very little to do with anything outside of their &#8220;sphere';. He also claims that
&#8220;they are often disposed to forget themselves.';. If aristocrats thought about anything besides themselves, then perhaps they would have
eased some of the suffering in the world. They could not know or care about anything that was not in their immediate world. It is unlikely that they
would be so out of their &#8220;sphere'; that they could have possibly known the poor man&#8217;s plight, or have cared. It does not hurt
the aristocrat if families live on the street.

Sexual Inequality, Disease And Despotism
Despite some of the truths in this quote like the idea that agriculture may have led to "sexual inequality, disease and despotism", agriculture revolution
still had an immensely positive impact. Following the creation of agriculture came a sedentary life style, and these two concepts led to the significant
increase in human population, as it was a more stable approach to living. It is only human nature to want more, want to succeed, and want to better
them selves and maintain dominance. If the adoption of agriculture had not occurred, another concept with as many negatives would have been adopted
in order to take that "step toward a better life." When one looks at the other possible routes that could've been taken, the agricultural progression ...
Such a demand called for enhancement in technology and tools. Tools were not a new concept during the creation of agriculture, yet, with the agrarian
age and those to follow came the advancement of tools. Tools transitioned from the first stone hand axe4 to unique tools specifically for agriculture,
such as the plow, and other tools that had been used since the earliest of times were upgraded. Food storage and systems food processing became a
necessity to these agricultural based societies. Agriculture changed and bettered previously used tools in a way that wouldn't have been possible
without the agrarian world. Following these creations came the irrigation system. Some societies faced the challenge of flooding spoiling crops. The
use of these large and complex irrigation systems gave them control of the water that raises their crops. Though an irrigation system wouldn't have been
a necessity in a world without agriculture, this system inspired and birthed new inventions that have aided different aspects of life that humanity could
not go with out. Alongside these advancements came the advancements regarding architecture. As agriculture played the greatest role in sedentary
civilizations, it is also the motive behind the growing interests and improvements in architecture. Through out the Indus Valley during the third
millennium B.C.E. "vast ground plans and impressive structures" sprouted.5 The greatest of architectural revelations are remembered though Greek
and Roman movements. These two cities and their architectural expertise played a significant role in art movements. Ancient Rome revolutionized
architecture with unique stonework and their distinct coliseums. Yet, historians first discuss advancements in architecture following the creation of
agriculture. "It [agriculture] encouraged the creation of permanent housing..."6 The seemingly

Tocqueville Despotism
Naela Barqawi Sociology 3020
What did Tocqueville see as the main problems facing democratic societies? Why did he think that America showed them particularly clearly? Do you
agree with him?
The main problems Tocqueville saw facing democratic societies were the danger of democratic despotism, mass society, individualism, materialism
and the excessive love for equality. The first thing I would first like to discuss the democratic despotism. Democratic despotism is a great danger
because it can act as a tyranny. It's not so obvious as despotism by a single leader and because it's perfectly compatible with rule by the majority.
Democracy is a term indicating who is in power and despotism is a term indicating how much power a leader has. Therefore ... Show more content on
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And this belief is what motivated his deep interest in America, his visit persuaded him that America had achieved in a peaceful and natural way
almost complete equality of conditions. He said if we understand America, we could not only understand what democracy means, but in a way even
take a look into the world's future. He wrote, " I confess, that in America I saw more than America; I sought the image of democracy itself, with its
inclinations, its character, its prejudices, and its passions, in order to learn what we have to fear or hope from its progress." (Democracy in America
Volume I) He thought he saw the outlines of a new kind of society, which would slowly become that kind of society for the rest of the world. He saw at
first hand democratized society. America became somewhat apprehensive of what they thought. America achieved its independence and many of the
French supported America. Many Frenchmen learned their lesson when they came here and then they went back and began. Tocqueville saw the
industrial revolution the enlightenment, and the

Despotism And The Framers Of The Constitution Dbq
King George the Third ruled England through despotism, and the Framers of the Constitution did not want the same fate. In May of 1787, fifty–five
state delegates arranged a Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. The delegates argued a long list of reasons why the Articles of Confederation
was not working, thus creating a completely new outline of the government. The making of the Constitution restrained one person or group from
obtaining too much power and turning America into an autocracy. The Framers introduced, federalism, separation of power, checks and balances, and
the small and large state compromise into the governing document. Federalism was a strong starting point to prevent America from becoming a
dictatorship. Different powers were given in James Madison's compound government. The state and federal governments provide "double security" to
the rights of the people in America. (Doc. A) On one hand, the state government deals with smaller, more private situations, such as establishing
schools, holding elections, and setting up local governments. On the other hand, the federal government deals with bigger issues, such as declaring
war, making immigration laws, and regulating trade. Even though both governments have... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Separation of power was inspired by Montesquieu, a philosopher during the Enlightenment. The Congress is in charge of legislative power. They
have the ability to make laws. The the president is in charge of the executive powers and he has to enforce the laws. The Supreme Court determines
what laws are broken, in the judicial branch. As said by James Madison in Federalist Paper #47, "Liberty requires that the three great departments of
power should be separate and distinct." (Doc. B) When power is divided between the three branches that each have different roles, no one will get too
much power and everyone is

Mentally Pampering Students Analysis
Implications of Mentally Pampering Students Over the past few years, the environment of American college campuses has changed drastically. More
so than ever before, students and faculty must be extremely careful over their words and actions because of the recent trend of protecting students from
anything that can offend them or cause them discomfort. The young men and women who are currently attending these institutes of higher learning
will be the next generation of leaders in real–world politics and business and will be forced to deal with difficult people, opposing views, and
uncomfortable ideas on a regular basis. In order to deal with the inevitable difficulties that they will face as professionals, their beliefs must be
challenged and... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Tocqueville focuses heavily on equality, and at one point he connects equality to the principal source of beliefs: "I see two very clear tendencies in
equality: one impels each individual towards new ways of thinking, while the other would induce him to give up thinking voluntarily"
(Tocqueville 492). Tocqueville would not be surprised to see what is happening at institutes of higher learning today, since it is basically the shift
in weight from the former to the latter. While these students could talk to people who have different ideas in order to gain new perspectives or
strengthen their own, they instead choose to retreat into spaces where they can take comfort by avoiding uncomfortable topics and protecting their
own beliefs. A passage from Judith Shulevitz's New York Time article "In College and Hiding from Scary Ideas" gives an effective example of the
modern problem: "At one point [a student and sexual assault victim named Emma Hall] went to the lecture hall... but after a while, she had to return
to the safe space. 'I was feeling bombarded by a lot of viewpoints that really go against my dearly and closely held beliefs,' Ms. Hall said" (Shulevitz
2). Instead of facing the painful situation and ideas that conflicted her own, she returned to a space where no one would challenge her opinions or make
her think of distressing memories. Correspondingly, Tocqueville makes the remark inDemocracy in America that "One of the distinctive
characteristics of democratic centuries is a taste for easy successes and instant gratification. This can be seen in intellectual pursuits as well as other
areas of life" (498). In other words, people in America sometimes fail to see the big picture–they tend to favor

Hobbes Despotism
It is hardly adequate to argue that Hobbes commits himself to upholding that it is permissible for a political authority to do anything he likes over
his people. Instead, what one finds in him is a statement such as, "It is a weak Soveraign, that has weak Subjects; and a weak People, whose
Soveraign wanteth Power to rule them at his will." As indicated above, a close reading of his texts as a whole reveals striking obstacles to interpret
him as recommending a despotic rule of the commonwealth. Although the idea of ruling despotically looks very Hobbesian, it is not quite very
supported by a close reading of Hobbes's overall political philosophy. His overall argument indicates, rather, that the sovereign cannot command
anything except what

The Liberation From England 's Despotism
In a very short time, the United States grew from thirteen small colonies that were governed by a monarchy over 3,000 miles away into a
self–sustaining democratic nation of fifty states. The liberation from England's despotism occurred not by accident or happenstance, but from a
collective whole of society whose moral resolve led to the famous phrase "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" (National Archives, 1776)
written in America's Declaration of Independence 239 years ago. These certain inalienable rights are our nation's backbone for what we stand for
and what we believe in. Our government, the government our forefather's created, is responsible for the freedoms we experience on a daily basis.
However, what are we doing as a nation to ensure that the same rights and reasons for which they fought for are being preserved so that we not only
retain our present way of life but also improve upon it for ourselves and future generations to come? When government is spoken of often it sounds as
if it is its own entity enabled to make its own decisions free from repercussions as well as accountability. As if it was a person that could be disciplined
for misbehaving. The government did this...or the government did that...or can you believe what they are doing in Washington? Have we forgotten
what President Lincoln said in his Gettysburg Address: "...That the nation, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people by the
people for the people, shall not

Perception of American Exceptionalism Essay example
Americans through the years of existence have adapted well to the radical changes throughout the world. Technology, independence and social equality
are some of the diverse concepts the United States have adapted to and developed in order to become a more unified country. Our nation believes that
it is exceptional when it comes to other countries worldwide. As can be shown through the popular reference to America as the 'shining city on a hill'.
The term "American exceptionalism" is derived from ideals held by many Americans throughout history. Different people have analyzed American
exceptionalism through multiple literary devices. Works such as A Model of Christian Charity, What is an American and Acres of Diamonds illustrate
the... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
But if we shall neglect...shall fall to embrace this present world and prosecute our carnal intentions, seeking great things for ourselves and our
posterity, the Lord will surely break out in wrath against us" (Winthrop, 20). This idea that the Christian deity is somehow connected to America's
greatness can be found in Conwell's work, albeit used in a different manner. Like Winthrop, Russell Conwell, author of Acres of Diamonds, stresses
how great America is with emphasis that it somehow ordained from a higher power. However, Winthrop focuses maintaining this status through
unselfish means while Conwell uses this as a way to establish individual success. "There never was a place on earth more adapted than the city of
Philadelphia to–day, and never in the history of the world did a poor man without capital have such an opportunity . . . Because to make money
honestly is to preach the gospel" (Conwell, 179). His argument that Philadelphia is the greatest city on earth ties in with the concept of American
exceptionalism. The connection he makes with religion is contrasted to Winthrop since Winthrop argues that America will lose its exceptionality if it
does not avoid selfish actions. Conwell argues that God is placing America in such a place that every person has the ability to acquire individual
wealth. Though Conwell focuses on the city of Philadelphia, his arguments can be applied to a more general sense in America. His statement that

Compare And Contrast Tocqueville And Crevecoeur
People in Great Britain wanted to escape the aristocracy and establish freedom for themselves and their families. The writings of Alexis de
Tocqueville, in Democracy in America, and J. Hector St. John Crevecoeur's, "Letter from an American Farmer," helped catapult the idea of
America being this new land of the brave and free. According to Tocqueville, American became a place where the Puritans found freedom for
themselves. The Puritans really pushed for democracy and equality in this new land as a vast dichotomy of what they escaped in Britain. America
being a place of democracy that was not dependent upon a royal family and aristocracy for ruling was a source of pride for the people and made
America unique. Additionally, the idea of its people having power, rights, and a constitution to protect that supported the idea of equality and liberty.
Crevecoeur stated, "He persecutes nobody, and nobody persecutes him, he visits his neighbors, and his neighbors visit him." There is the idea that in
America one can be themselves and everyone has the same basic human rights. Crevecoeur's writing differed from Tocqueville in the accuracy of
America at the time and how accessible the American Dream actually was for all of the people living in America. The writings of Tocqueville and
Crevecoeur highlight these great accomplishments by Americans and shifts the narrative of America being run by natives and British immigrants to
American being run by Americans. Alexis de Tocqueville, in Democracy in America, initiated a trend in American studies by examining the shift from
aristocracy to democracy. This new world run by the people and not by kings was fascinating at the time and very different, thus making America
unique. Democracy was especially a source of pride in America because it actually worked unlike in other places, like France. Tocqueville states, "The
government democracy brings the notion of political rights to the level of the humblest citizens, just as the dissemination of wealth brings the notion of
property within the reach of all the members of the community; and I confess that, to my mind, this is one of its greatest advantages." This became a
catalyst for a shift in American studies because essentially

Essay on Navigating Interstitial Spaces
Navigating Interstitial Spaces
"[T]he law permits the Americans to do what they please."
Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America
The protection of virtue, I submit, requires an understanding of interstitial spaces–spaces where formalist adherence to rules and laws does not suffice
to adequately promote virtue. Recognition of these spaces spawned agent morality and Aristotle's practical wisdom. Fascination with these spaces fueled
Alexis de Tocqueville's inquiry into American religious, familial and political mores in Democracy in America. Though America's formal, codified laws
of the 1830s granted "dangerous freedom" to the individual, Americans managed to navigate interstitial spaces with assiduous virtue. This ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
Given the arguments in my second seminar paper on Socratic citizenship, the comparison between Plato's Guardians and Aristotle's men of
practical wisdom seems to be a reasonable one. Both Guardians and men of practical wisdom operate relatively freely in a moral system of
substantive justice, with little reference to fixed principles. Plato's discussion of democracy in the Republic and of obedience in the Crito, however,
makes clear that he did not believe regular individuals could operate virtuously in interstitial spaces between fixed rules and principles. Plato feared a
democratic expansion of liberty which would allow each citizen to "pursue a way of life to suit himself," as this would unleash a torrent of
subjectivism and a bastardization of virtue. As such, his ideal Republic employed absolute rule of the Guardians, noble lies and temperance (read
"disinterest in political participation") to close the interstitial spaces which would allow the clumsy subjectivism of the lower classes to operate.
Emancipated from the rule of the Guardians, the "democratic man" cannot control his desires and sows the seeds of tyranny. Plato seems convinced
that the democratic expansion of interstitial spaces could only mean extinguishing virtue.
Pericles' Athens provides a compelling counter–example to Plato's pessimism about democracy. Pericles prescribes a mixture of individual

Sexual Despotism In Susanna's Seven Husband By Ruskin Bond
Ruskin Bond, rightly observed as 'Wordsworth' of India, has made eminent contribution to Indian writing in English. His works, sophisticated yet
simple, convey a large and complex meaning inherent in Indian life and culture. Prominently recognized for his treatment of nature, children and
childhood in his notable works, Bond also established himself as an illustrious promoter of feminism. Under the wrap of dark comedy, he gracefully
touches on the subject of sexual despotism and repression meted out towards women. In Susanna's Seven Husbands, he ruthlessly brings out the
subjugation that a woman faces in a prejudiced society by subverting the established norms of system and institution regarding the general perception of
women's place in society. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
After her father's death, she inherits the property. She had grown up "unaccustomed to male company" (06), and is captivated with one when she
comes into contact with them in her adulthood. Since she comes from an affluent background, she is more of a casualty to the demands of sexual
oppression. Her vibrant flow of sensuality is taken offence by the community of the times in which she lived. Adhering to hegemony of social
system, she has to marry many times in order to satisfy her sexual desires. But in each of her six marriages she is unsatisfied, hence driving her to
take monastic vow in the end. To join a nunnery at those times could be comprehend as the only way Susanna could control her excessive natural
desires. She is held in esteem by everyone especially her servants who possess mutual concern, love and loyalty for their mistress. She is tender and
kind; "Yes, she was kind to children and an animal even to old creatures and freaks...Her cruelty was reserved for another species of human..." (05) Her
warm attitude toward animals, children, the marginalized or abnormal, and her contempt for men bring into dark contrast the recurring betrayal by
them, hopelessness and expectation to stay in the confinement of patriarchy which holds the rein of liberation of passion placed on men and women.
This leads Susanna to gaze at them in abhorrence, and incline

Montesquieu's Definition Of Inequality In Jean Jacques...
Introduction Both Jean Jacques Rousseau (28 June 1712 – 2 July 1778) and Montesquieu (18 January 1689 – 10 February 1755) wrote theory
concerning inequality and its effects. They explored gender relations, slavery, and many other topics. One particular concept that they both address is
inequality and its relationship into despotism. While the authors utilize common definition of despotism, it is plain to see that Montesquieu believes
that preserving certain privileges can serve to protect from despotism, but Rousseau, on the other hand, believes that inequality breeds it. Montesquieu's
Argument Montesquieu's Persian Letters follow the travels of two Persian noblemen, Usbek and Rica as they tour France. During their travels, they
see many unorthodox things that they are not used to, such as the manner of women, and practice of Christian religion as compared to Islam. At the
same time, the story of the Seraglio, where Usbek's wives and eunuchs reside, happens concurrently with the story of Usbek and Rica's travels. Usbek
tries to keep an open mind about his foreign experiences and shares them with his companions, wives, and eunuchs via letters. Montesquieu wants to
protect historical privileges. Preserving privileges, or sometimes called,... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
For both of the authors, despotism does not necessarily refer to a single tyrant, but a system of government, characterized by a lack of laws, lack of
restraint, no respect for authority o rank, and ran by constant fear. Montesquieu exemplifies this in his depiction of the Seraglio in the Persian Letters.
In the Seraglio, the women were basically imprisoned, and charged with pleasing the needs of one master. This is seen in the letter Usbek writes to
Roxanna (Letter 26) where he believes Roxanna to be entirely fortunate to reside in his fortress and be virtuous by appeasing him. Eventually, the
Seraglio broke down into uncontrollable chaos, or

Critical Analysis Of Alexis De Tocqueville's Democracy In...
Throughout the course of the semester, we spent numerous hours as a class learning, analyzing, and discussing about various tyrannical powers,
equality vs inequality, freedom vs enslavement, the visible dangers of government and society, along with other crucial themes that involve societies
back then till societies today. It was not until we got have way through the semester, that we acknowledged one philosopher's work more than anyone
else's. His name was Alexis De Tocqueville and he was most notably known for being a French diplomat, a political scientist and a famous historian.
We spent over a quarter of our semester discussing his work "Democracy in America" because it was possibly one of the most accurate representations
of our culture. Honestly, at first glance I would have disagreed with most Tocqueville's ideas and opinions. Until, I examined his beliefs further and
realized how correct he was. He managed to pinpoint America's democracy perfectly, along with managing the risk that come with it. His emphasis
throughout the book, is the obliviousness of the American people towards the negative effects that democracy has on one's culture, while also offering
solutions to the problem, so we can become civilized and humanized people instead of being industrial animals.
In the middle of his novel, Tocqueville makes this major claim "I do not say that at the present time frequent use is made of tyranny in America" I say,
"No guarantee against [tyranny] may be discovered

Examples Of Enlightened Despotism
The key to Enlightenment during this time period is rationality, meaning rulers probably favored science and philosophy. Rulers actually became more
open–minded and provided more freedoms for their subjects during this period of time. For instance, rulers often implemented freedom of religion, and
freedom of speech. Rulers also funded the arts, science, and education. They wanted the masses to be more knowledgeable so that the kingdom overall
can become more intelligent and productive. Enlightened Despotism is when a monarch adopts the ideas of the Enlightenment, primarily rationality,
which means he probably funded arts, sciences, and education, while also allowing his subjects more freedom. An example of an enlightened despot of
the eighteenth century was Catherine the Great. She was the ruler of Russia and helped the country in many ways. For example, Catherine built an art
museum. It was named the Hermitage Museum. It started off as Catherine's personal art and literature collection. Not only that, but she also invested a
great deal of her wealth into creating education institutes throughout Russia. She fought for women's education rights. She was also the first ruler to
issue paper money in Russia, meaning she established... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
He was much like Catherine and helped make his society a much better place to live in. He was also called Joseph of Austria. He reformed the legal
system in the Empire. Also, he abolished brutal punishments and even the death penalty in some instances. He also made it so that all offenders were
treated equally on the law. He also stopped censoring the press. Lastly, he made education accessible to all children in the empire. He had elementary
education available to all boys and girls. He made education more available. Even university–level education was granted to some. All in all, Joseph
helped change his empire for the

Democracy In America Analysis
Democracy in America, by Alexis de Tocqueville includes Tocqueville's observations on what American society and culture was like during the
1830's. Throughout his analysis of America, he draws many outlandish and interesting conclusions regarding what life was like during this time
period. For example, in Chapter 18, Tocqueville remarks that citizens in democratic societies are independent, which makes them weak and
subsequently uninfluential in society. He goes on to say that in order to combat this, associations must be established to combat individualism and
to circulate new thoughts and ideas. All in all, Tocqueville's claim is certainly valid, but only up to a certain point because there were a select few
of individuals that were able to make an influence on society without the help from any associations. Generally speaking, Tocqueville's claim is
completely valid for the average citizen of America. The average citizen in America during this time period was certainly weak in the aspect that
their voice didn't hold much power. Therefore, according to Tocqueville, the only way to gain power was to join an association because there was a
power in numbers. Essentially, thousands of voices saying the same thing was significantly more powerful than just one voice saying something. A
prime example of this is seen in a dueling poster as Tharp pronounces Smith as a "scoundrel, rascal, & coward," (Becoming America 283). Tharp
makes this public because the more people that

The Threat Of Liberty Equality Based Societies By Alexis...
Threat to Liberty in Equality Based Societies While traveling across the United States, Alexis de Tocqueville recorded how democracy operates and the
roles of its participants in, "Democracy in America." Tocqueville demonstrates his admiration of the American democratic system and Americans'
dedication to freedom, equality, and supporting one another. Despite these praises, there is also a looming danger against liberty in not only America,
but in all societies based on equality. The most imminent threat to liberty in these societies is despotism as it prevents individuals from exercising their
natural freedoms and rights. Tocqueville proposes resolutions to this threat, such as, government decentralization and civil associations. Despotism
flourishes in equal societies due to individuals isolating themselves and forming a centralized governing institution. As stated by Tocqueville, "Equality
places men beside one another without a common bond to hold them. Equality disposes them not to think of those like themselves..." (485). With
aristocracies, a society not concerned with equality, there is a ligature between individuals within each socioeconomic class. For instance, the noblemen
associate with noblemen, while the poor associate with the poor. However, with societies based on equality, mankind is no longer divided by their
means. The wealthy are equal to the poor in rights and freedoms, but not in monetary wealth. Lacking this unification amongst each other's

Enlightened Despotism in Prussia
Assignment: 1
Critically examine the main features of Enlightened Despotism in 18th century Prussia.
The Enlightenment refers to an important cultural and intellectual movement of the 18th century, whose goal was to establish knowledge based on an
enlightened rationality. Enlightened Absolutism or Enlightened Despotism as it is more often called can be defined as a form of government strongly
influenced by the wide propagation of ideas and the political philosophy of the Enlightenment. It is a term first used by the Philosophes in the second
half of the 18th century that manifested to describe a particular phase in the development of absolutism. The term 'Enlightened Despot' refers to those
18th century monarchs who were familiar with ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Christian Wolff was the first to introduce the ideas of the Enlightenment into German administrative theory. His ideas derive from the Enlightenment.
According to Wolff, the state was a voluntary contract between individuals and the main purpose of the state was to further welfare and security. At the
same time, since the state has the duty to plan and implement measures for security and welfare, it has the right to insist that its citizens obey its orders.
It is emphasized that they are bound to do willingly whatever the authorities deem to be right. These ideas were expounded and elaborated, without
adding anything new, by the German political theorists of the 18th century and particularly by the followers of Wolff.
In practice, Enlightened Absolutism was certainly not so radical. The Physiocrats never got beyond the initial stages in the implementation of their
doctrines. Thus the French doctrine of Despotisme Г©claire remains an interesting trend of thought, but its practical effect was almost nil. The direct
influence of the German 18th century administrative theory was not much as well.
Frederick II of Prussia is often regarded as the first true enlightened despot. He was the first monarch who declared 'the sovereign is the first servant of
the state' and presented Europe with a model of progressive monarchy. Frederick cultivated friendship with several Philosophes and believed that inputs
from them could be used to make the administration of

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest And 1984 Critical Analysis
The two texts studied, 1984 and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, both teach the viewer essential lessons about the importance of freedom and the
dangers of despotism. They do this by showing the viewer how awful life is in the absence of freedom, the constant abuse of power by authoritarian
forces, and the elimination of love. The film 1984, directed by Michael Radford, is based on the highly acclaimed novel, 1984, written by George
Orwell. The film follows the life of a man called Winston living in a dystopian society. Throughout the film, the viewer sees the cruel consequences
Winston faces due to disobeying the oppressive governmental forces, as a result teaching the audience of the importance of freedom and the dangers of
despotism. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The lack of freedom is shown in One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest when Nurse Ratched prohibits Randle and the others from watching the World
Series. In order for Randle to be able to watch the World Series, he must obtain a certain amount of votes. At first, he does not, leaving Nurse
Ratched once again feeling successful. The second time Randle asks to watch the game, he does obtain the required amount of votes, yet Nurse
Ratched claims it does not count, as the requirement was not met while the group meeting was still running. Small instances like this leave people
such as Randle left feeling helpless and as if they are not entitled to basic forms of enjoyment. The lesson that each of the texts attempt to show the
reader is that freedom is an important aspect of life, even having the freedom to do what we view as minuscule activities, such as to choose what to
watch on television.
Love is believed to be having a deep affection for someone, whether that be a spouse, parent, or child. Throughout both 1984 and One Flew Over the
Cuckoo's Nest the idea of love is diminished as much as possible. In 1984, love for anything but The Party is prohibited and sex is solely for
procreational purposes. Before Winston meets Julia, he follows the Government's commands and abstains from love. However, soon after meeting her
he falls in love and is quick to disobey. Eventually they are

Critical Analysis of Alex de Tocqueville's Democracy in...
Irena Cosby
Analysis of Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America Alexis de Tocqueville's visit to the United States in 1831 prompted his work Democracy
in America. This was supposed to be a chance for him to take a look at the American prison system. However, it was obvious from his writing that he
looked at every aspect of American culture. In Democracy in America, he takes a look at how democracy works and the pitfalls that could bring about
the downfall of democracy. Throughout his travels he noticed that private interest and personal gain motivated the actions of most Americans. He
believed this cultivated a new concept, the concept of individualism. He believed this individualism was one of the greatest threats to ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
He also looked at the industrialization of America and how it fit into this new concept. He noticed that employees of factories learned how to do
one thing. While they may perfect that one skill, they began to lose creativity and imagination. They also lost the desire to move up in society.
They became comfortable and content with their task, and every day became just like the one before it. Owners of factories, on the other hand,
held all the power. They could get richer or even lose their wealth. However, it didn't matter how many different people were in management
positions, they all had two things in common...power and wealth. De Tocqueville believed this would create a large population of people who relied
on the few creative thinkers left to take care of them. While there was an equality of the masses, there was still a much smaller group of people that
held all the power. Given that despots have every interest in keeping people isolated, the individualism resulting from equality makes despotism a great
threat to equality. Exercising freedom through participation in public affairs is therefore extremely vital because it gives people a personal interest in
thinking about others in society. Local self governments are important because they draw people together, and it is, therefore, more likely that they will
exercise their liberty. De Tocqueville believed that when

Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America Essay example
Alexis de Tocqueville's visit to the United States in the early part of the nineteenth century prompted his work Democracy in America, in which he
expressed the ability to make democracy work. Throughout his travels Tocqueville noted that private interest and personal gain motivated the actions
of most Americans, which in turn cultivated a strong sense of individualism. Tocqueville believed that this individualism would soon "sap the virtue
of public life" (395) and create a despotism of selfishness. This growth of despotism would be created by citizens becoming too individualistic, and
therefore not bothering to fulfill their civic duties or exercise their freedom. Tocqueville feared that the political order of America would soon become...
<br> <br>Another means by which Tocqueville believes it is possible to contest individualism is to form associations and write newspapers. He
believes that like local governments, associations help people to realize their dependence on their fellow citizens and take interest in public affairs.
It is crucial to have institutions and civic duties which force people to look beyond their own interests and think about the problems of the
community. "As soon as several of the inhabitants of the United States have taken up an opinion or a feeling which they wish to promote to the
world, they look out for mutual assistance; and as soon as they have found one another out, they combine. From that moment they are no longer
isolated men, but a power seen from afar, whose actions serve for an example and whose language is listened to" (407). Seeing as citizens in
democratic societies are independent and weak, they need to form associations in order to have some influence. By bringing people together, new
thoughts and ideas are circulated with a stronger force behind them. <br> <br>Newspapers combat individualism by allowing numerous readers to be
exposed to the same thoughts and ideas. There is a shared relationship between newspapers and associations: newspapers aid in the formation of
associations, and associations use newspapers as a means of communicating their thoughts and ideas. When there is a notion shared by many
individuals, but not

Oriental Despotism In Montetesquieu's The Persian Letters
The European's mindset by the latter of the third of the 18th century saw that inside each Asian burned the effervescent ember of savagery. Without
controlling governance over the people, Europeans believed anarchy would chaotically erupt in Asia. It was believed Asians truly did not have
self–control without a supreme leader. Oriental despotism is the idea that the societies in Asia have a single totalitarian–formed government and without
this leadership there would be no order to their society. According to Montesquieu, Asian power is absolutist and held in the hands of one. Everything
that could possibly happen is in the merciless hands of the despotism. In Montesquieu's epistolary novel The Persian Letters, he argues for oriental
despotism through his two main characters in the story Usbec and Rico. He talks about the economic, political, social and cultural aspects of Persian
society that he parallels with oriental despotism. Montesquieu also shows makes his story of the characters into a metaphor of the destruction of
oriental despotism. Marx believed in the superiority of the west and the lack of growth in political and economic realms of Asiatic society contributing
to the concept of Asian despotism. Finally, Hegel touches on the white man's burden where he uses oriental despotism to explain the child like
relationship Europeans had with the savage orients. Montesquieu's Persian Letters shows the reader the innerworkings of how he viewed oriental
despotism and the

Democracy in America Essay
Democracy in America
Throughout the course of history, mankind has been recorded to corrupt itself. Men have grown tired of simply surviving; they have had to take and
conquer others. Absolute monarchies control wealth, land, and even lives of men. The conditions of the people were solely dependent on the
conditions of the one who was in power in that particular place and time. History has proven that most men rule unwisely in their kingdoms. To avoid
tyrannical rule, some make an attempt to set up a government in which the people ruled themselves. This form of government is called a democracy, or
"rule of the people." History has also revealed through the Greeks and the French Revolution, that a democracy that gives complete power ... Show
more content on Helpwriting.net ...
As a result, it was not received as well as the first part, except in England where it was acclaimed highly.2
Tocqueville believes that history progresses with the inevitable growth of equality of conditions, and he sees America as the furthest progression of this
growth. The extraordinary level of equality can be both a help and a hindrance to freedom. "On the one hand, one cannot have complete freedom. "As
social conditions become more equal, the number increases who, although they are neither rich enough nor powerful enough to exercise any great
influence over their fellow–creatures, have nevertheless acquired or retained sufficient education and fortune to satisfy their own wants."1 "Yet at the
same time, Tocqueville recognizes than in almost every situation, freedom is endangered by an overly ardent passion for equality."3 "This,
independently of equality itself, tends powerfully to divide men, to lead them to mistrust the judgment of others, and to seek the light of truth nowhere
but in their own understandings."1
Tocqueville inaccurately stated the out come of a possible civil war. "As long as it only indirectly assailed by the interpretation of its laws, and as
long as its substances is not seriously altered, a change of opinion, an internal crisis, or a war, may restore all the vigor which it requires. So far is the
Federal Government from acquiring strength, and from threatening the sovereignty of the States, as it grows older, that I maintain

Montesquieu's Greatest Mark on Philosophy Essay
Doubtless, if Montesquieu were forced to choose a favorite mathematical formula, he would pick the average function. For even among the great
thinkers of the French Enlightenment, the baron de Montesquieu stands out as an especially impassioned advocate for moderation. Montesquieu, of
course, left his greatest mark on the philosophy of the governance through his great work The Spirit of the Laws. Though certainly his earlier work
The Persian Letters sowed the seeds of many of the ideas featured in his chef d'Е“uvre. In particular, Montesquieu spends some time in both works
examining the universe of possible governments. But he advocates not, in fact, for republicanism or, perhaps less surprisingly,despotism. Rather,
Montesquieu ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Further, Usbek notes a few paragraph later, "When Osman, the Turkish emperor, was deposed, none of the men who performed the deed had any
intention of carrying it out; they were simply petitioners asking for some cause of complaint to be put right" (Persian Letters 159). Here, Montesquieu
shows not only subject's suffering at the despots cruel hand, but also stresses the intrinsic instability of a despotic government.
This case is made even more explicitly in The Spirit of the Laws. In Book III, for instance, Montesquieu ascribes a fundamental principle to each of
the three types of government he outlines. But while Montesquieu names "virtue" as the principle of a republican government and "honor" as the
principle of a monarchical government, the despotic system is given the fundamental principle of "fear" (Spirit of the Laws bk. III, ch. 9, par. 1),
easily the least noble of the three.
By contrast, Montesquieu does not make his distaste for the republican system nearly as overt. In his discussion of the history of republics, the
character Rhedi writes of the ancient Greek republics, "Love of freedom and hatred of kings preserved Greek independence for a long time, and
extended republican government to distant parts" (Persian Letters 233), which suggests Montesquieu, through Rhedi, feels the system has some merit
insofar as it allowed the Greeks to thrive.
Even in the context of acknowledging the good the republican system has done

Disadvantages Of Enlightened Despotism
Some of the traits most associated with enlightened despotism include many types of reforms inspired by the Enlightenment made by absolute
monarchs, these reforms were of social, economic, legal, and educational, and religious tolerance. These reforms did not allow for the question of
their central power, or of the accepted social class order. I believe this form of government to an extent could work with today's political climate, as it
has been going. Although, rule, entirely of the monarch, would eventually fall, and absolute power would bring mostly disadvantages. Religious
toleration is something that is needed within all societies, as it should be a promise never to change, because without toleration of religion, any type of
war is able... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The impact that Frederick II's reign had on the geo–political organization of Western and Eastern Europe was his foreign policy. This is where Prussia
gained this province of the West, where the isolation of East Prussia happened by linking with monarchical states. This had made the kingdom more
capable of defense and within its territory, Prussia was more predominantly to the East, and had also made the dividing social and political
differences sharpen with that of the other states of Western Europe.Russia's czarist government in one way, helped protect the rights of nobles and
peasants in the Table of Ranks. This table let all men have the ability to serve the state, and had to longer allow Russia's military to rely on heredity
positions. This gave larger privileges to those who placed higher in the ranks, which can be compared with England's parliamentary democracy of the
protection of their rights, though in order of their services they had committed.This quote follows how King Louis XIV "territorial ambition" did not
suit him in the future as it would the

What Is Tocqueville Relevant Today
Alexis De Tocqueville was a French intellectual who lived in the heartland of the enlightenment. He decided to go to America because he thought he
saw the outlines of a new kind of society, which would slowly become the kind of society for the rest of the world. He saw at first hand a democratized
society with many issues. After his return, from America, he wrote and published the book that made him famous,Democracy in America. Democracy
in America discusses many of the issues he encountered, but what he observed in the nineteenth century is still relevant today.
The main problems Tocqueville saw facing democratic societies were the danger of democratic despotism, mass society, individualism and the
excessive love for equality. I would first like to discuss the democratic despotism. Because democratic despotism is perfectly compatible with rule
by majority it is not immediately obvious as despotism. Democracy is a term indicating who is in power and despotism is a term indicating how
much power a leader has. Therefore when the people rule and the majority have absolute power, there is a democratic despotism. But the only way to
run a society is to base decisions on what the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Tocqueville saw a problem facing democratic societies, which is mass society. The danger that the majority will become tyrannical creates mass
society with the worry that when people are together the view of the majority come to be the dominating principal. Those in the minority will be
helpless with no voice and will be pressured to conform into what the majority wants. Conforming to the majority opinion negates the principal of
equality. Therefore, an aristocracy can never become a majority while it retains its exclusive privileges, and it cannot yield its privileges without
ceasing to be an aristocracy. In a powerful passage, Tocqueville states how this form of tyranny can be worse than the past

How Did Voltaire Contribute To The Danger Of Despotism
Voltaire
Voltaire was a French philosopher in the eighteen century, a period of free thinkers where freedom of thought was emerging sufficiently. However, he
and others were not academically trained scholars operating in official institutions of their time. They largely depended on talent and the knowledge
they had acquired in school having come from able families.
On his part, Voltairegreatly defended civil liberties including freedom of religion and right to fair trial. He went against all odds to ensure social
reform despite laws in France for those that were found to have broken them. He was satirical as he often used his work to criticize church doctrine.
On his part, he failed to advocate for atheism or the overthrow of the French regime ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
His mentor John Luke and England's uncertain empiricism were the motives behind his philosophical views. He was a hypocrite in some manner as
his philosophical ideas, and social criticisms were not original although he portrayed a keen common sense. He contradicted Rousseau's believe that
civilization corrupts man as he believed in progress and the virtues of civilization.
Voltaire significantly took part in fighting for religious liberty. He found the act of people believing in one religion dangerous as this could expose
them to the danger of despotism. He was controversial as he articulated that existence of two or more religions would generate violence among people.
Undiplomatically, he is said to have fought to an unusual extent to right the wrongs done against Protestants who had beliefs different to his.
Voltaire did not like Catholic Church institutions as he found them abusive. Eventually, this made Voltaire engaged in an intense battle against the
Catholic Church as he found it skeptical of religious keenness and the emphasis of human sin. He advised people to take religion as a deterrent and
encouragement towards the good life. Notably, he had invented a saying that "if God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him." This was
controversial as by this he just sought to encourage the worshiping of

How Did Thomas Jefferson Reduce Them Under Absolute Despotism
Thomas Jefferson wanted to separate from the British for many reasons, including, Usurpation, Despotism and Violence. The British Government was
taking away things from the colonists and taking credit from them. Jefferson said, "But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, it is their right, it
is their duty, to throw off such government". It is obvious the Government was taking things away from the colonists, as Jefferson mentions it more
than once saying, "reduce them under absolute despotism". Jefferson mentions usurpation saying that the British took their power and property. The
King would take their achievements and claim them as his own. The Government was exceedingly controlling towards colonists, so much so that they
couldn't

Abraham Lincoln Despotism

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