The transition form Ancient to Modern political thinking is one which has stemmed rapidly from the time of Americas founding. The main change that we will be looking at is the transition from the views of the Puritans to views of the Founding fathers.
In the span of a few hundred years the country turned from a country striving for a theocracy, "rule by God" to a representative-democracy, " rule by the people". The early biblical thinkers in America were known as the Puritans, armed with the Scriptures they were ready to set up a nation under the rule of God. These Puritans wanted the country run in the same way that the church was run. In this community Gods law would be followed by the people providing discipline, direction and authority. The thought is that the government was like a mixture of a Monarchy and a Democracy, with God as the monarch, allowing the leaders of the church to govern his congregation.
The leaders of the Puritan walk hold to the theory that God expects us to obey him once we have committed to him, by what they would call a covenant. Puritan Leaders like John Winthrop would argue that we are free and conditionally bound only by a covenant with God and our fellow man. In "A Little Speech on Liberty" Winthrop offers Liberty and freedom to those who are good, just, and honest, contrary to the view now held by modern Americans, who proclaim Liberty and justice for all. We here in America respect the government but never formally promise to obey its laws. We chose our leaders and expect them to be upstanding and respectable, but when they are not, we often replace them. This is true not only today, John Cotton a respected Puritan like Winthrop, argued that officials, even if religious, were prone to corruption. Even though he believed this he also believed that God anointed some to lead and govern his people. He commented, "One cannot give, nor receive, what is not his by divine order" This divine order was set up within the church led by the Elders and the Deacons.
