Absolutism Vs Democratic Government

Since the first civilization to now, there have always been various forms of political systems used to govern. All governments had their own benefits and drawbacks. However, as civilizations developed into the 17th and 18th centuries, the two prominent forms of government were either democratic or absolutism. As nations were being built in Europe, absolute monarchs ruled countries such as France and Russia with vast power and wealth, while in England, attempts were made to give rights to the people as well as lime the power of the royal. Scholars had their own opinions on which was the best. The democratic government appealed to many scholars, as well as, proved to be the most effective. Democracy is a type of government that bedazzled in …show more content…
No matter what type of government is ruling, the peasants, or the common people are the ones affected the most. Their voices hold importance, yet they are the ones whose perspective is often left out. The prevailing opinion among scholars is that a democratic government best fits the requirements to rule greatly. A democratic government helps protect the rights of the people as well as prevent threats to the power. Scholars viewed a democratic government to be the path to enlightenment. One such case is made by Voltaire. “The best government seems to be that in which all ranks of men are equally protected by the laws.” This excerpt from Voltaire’s writings emphasize that rights should be given to all men. More importantly, this shows that Voltaire supported a democratic government because it gave the same freedoms and liberty to all classes. Similarly, Locke criticized absolute monarchy and favored the idea of self-government. Written in 1690, John Locke’s Two Treaties on Government, he supported the idea that, “Men being … by nature all free, equal, and independent, no one can be … subjected to the political power of another without his own consent,” and, “Since men hope to preserve their property by establishing a government, they will not want that government to destroy their objectives.” This excerpt supports the ideas of other scholars at that time, that a democratic government is the best. The people cannot be subjected …show more content…
Absolutism was the political belief that one ruler should hold all of the power within the boundaries of a country. Practiced by several monarchs in the 16th through the 18th century, absolutism was thought to be the answer to many problems. Absolutism was a way for the rulers to regulate religious worship and social gathering to control the spread of ideas. This was able to resolute the fear and uncertainty caused by religious and territorial conflicts. Also, the absolute rulers were able to appear more powerful by increasing the size of their courts, as well as, create bureaucracies. This caused the tension to cease caused by heavy taxes to fund the growth of armies. One such supporter was, Machiavelli. He believed that the best way to rule was through fear and not love. In times of war, he thought that, “Men have less hesitation in offending a man who is loved that one who is feared, for love is held by a bond of obligation, which … is broken whenever personal advantage suggests it, but fair is accompanied by the dread of punishment,” as written by Machiavelli in The Prince during the 15th century. This was his justification for absolutism. He believed that if a monarch rules with fear rather than love, revolts can be prevented as well as support during the wars will be present. King James I of England claimed that, “ Kings are justly called gods, for that they exercise a … divine power upon