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Constitutional Convention creates Constitutional Republic
The Framers of the Constitutional secretly, and undemocratically, create a new Constitution for the United States that allows for a House of Representatives that is voted on by the people. The Executive branch, the Senate, and the Judiciary have elements of democratic governance, but are not directly elected. The Constitution leaves many rights to state governments in federal system of government. Verdict: Somewhat democratic -
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How democratic is the United States?
Events on the timeline will both support, and refute, the statement that "the United States advancese democracy." -
Ratification of the Constitution
The ratification of the Constitution was a democratic process whereby representatives of state legislatures had to ratify the Constitution. This process consisted of much debate, including the writing of what are known today as the Federalist Papers. These papers spell out many unique features of the American democratic experiment. Verdict: Mostly democratic -
Election of 1796
John Adams was elected president of the United States, while Thomas Jefferson was elected the vice president. Only time in U.S. history that opposing parties held the position of president and vice president
Verdict: Mostly democratic -
Alien and Sedition Acts Passed
Four laws passed in 1789 entitled the Alien and Sedition Acts seeked to prevent uprisings in the United States by Democratic-Republicans. They were mad that we were almost at a state of war with France. These perplexing laws seeked to throw immigrants out of the country if their homeland was at war with the U.S. or if individuals would get into trouble if they wrote overly critical things of the U.S. government. These laws were passed by Congress and signed by President John Adams. -
Indian Removal Act
Signed into law by Andrew Jackson, it forcibly moved 10's of thousand Native Americans to the West. It led to the 1831 Trail of Tears.
Verdict: Somewhat undemocratic -
Monroe Doctrine
The U.S. claimed that European interference in the Western World would be seen as an act of agression. The U.S. feared that the Europeans would attempt to restore monarch control in those areas. The U.S. hoped those areas would develop into democracies. Verdict: Somewhat democratic -
Second Seminole War--mostly undemocratic
Seminole Indians in Florida resist relocation of their tribes. Andrew Jackson dispatches Army to quell resistance. -
US Women's Rights Convention at Seneca Falls, NY--mostly democratic
The Convention passed resoltuions addressing suffrage, free speech and equality in marriage, work and education for women. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act --Somewhat Democratic
Nullified Missouri Compromise and set up popular sovereignty. Slavery was decided by vote. -
Dred Scott Decision--mostly undemocratic
Court decision that labeled slaves as only 2/3 a person, not citizens of the United States. -
14th and 15th Amendments 1868-1870
– Somewhat Democratic
The Amendments were good in intent, but left African-Americans in something one step up from slavery. Jim Crow laws continued until the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s and 70s. -
Reconstruction 1868-1888
– Mostly Undemocratic
Again, intent was good, but the application left something to be desired. Without federal troops to back up new governemnts in the South, they fell, leaving the same pre-War politicians in place. -
American Imperialism
– Somewhat Undemocratic
American Imperialism in Phillipines, Panama, Latin America 1900-1914 was very undemocratic. -
Women's Suffrage
– Mostly Democratic
19th Amendment Women's suffrage in 1920 was very democratic, fulfilling a nearly forgotten promise. -
Executive Order 9066 Signed
American President Franklin Roosevelt signs order authorizing the military to designate "military areas" at their discretion. This policy eventually led to many Japanese-Americans being held in internment camps during WWII. Verdict: Not democratic -
Executive Order 9835 Signed
This program investigated over 3 million government employees, just over 300 of them would be eventually dismissed as security risks. This "loyalty order" was a response to the Red Scare. Verdict: Somewhat not democratic -
Brown v. Board of Education
This Supreme Court ruling paved the way for integration and was a major victory for the civil rights movement. Verdict: Democratic -
The United States Enters Vietnam
This date marks the beginning of the American ground war. The United States enters into the region on the basis of promoting democracy. Verdict: Somewhat democratic -
Roe Vs. Wade
Unites States Supreme Court decision that legalized women's right to have an abortion. This controversial decision has remained a hot topic even up to today. Somewhat undemocratic -
Ronal Reagan's "Tear down this wall" Speech
A speech by Ronald Reagan directed towards Soviet Union's General Secretary of the Communist Party Mikhail Gorbachev in which President Reagan calls out Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin wall which was an universal symbol of Communism in the world. Mostly Democratic -
Operation Iraqi Freedom
United States, in retaliation for potential involvement in the 9/11 plot, al quada and fear of weapons of mass destruction, invaded Iraq to overthrow the Iraqi dictator and war criminal Saddam Hussein. Somewhat Democratic -
Obama Care
A health care plan promoted by President Barack Obama that nationalized health care. A controversial move towards a more socialistic ideal. Mostly Undemocratic
