Democracy in Colonial Wethersfield, Connecticut.
With Wethersfield Connecticut as an example the American society was .
becoming less democratic in most situations. The colonies were suppose to be a way for .
people to get freedom though it seemed as if the had less freedom when arriving to .
America. One category that the colonies were lacking democracy in was property .
distribution.
The wealthiest men paid less taxes than did the poor citizens, thus came the .
saying, the rich stay rich and the poor stay poor. Also 90% of all land was owned by the .
welathy people. Another negative towards democracy was that the rich controlled the .
church and the government, which led to less freedom for the poor.
The social structure was a major problem because of preferrential treatment. .
Teachers, and doctors were looked less upon as the ministers in the colonies. Though .
more people were able to vote blacks, and women still did not have that right, causing .
another negative towards democracy. Also the top two wealthiest gruops in the colonies .
held the most high offices.
Finally, religion was one of the least democratic parts of the colonies in the mid .
1700's. Connecticut law said that you must get consent from Rev. Lockwood to be able .
to preach, which deminished freedom of religion. Sober Dissenters were made to pay .
church taxes even though they did not support the church's beliefs. Ministers wer not .
made to pay any taxes causing a bigger gap between democracy and the colonies.
So many people may believe that America was moving to democracy as early as .
the 1700's but I would disagree. If anything the colonists were restricted as much as they .
were in their own homeland. I also believe that America was a big waste until after the .
American Revolution, which is when the democracy began for the colonists.