Democracy can be defined as government by the people in all of its forms; either exercised directly or through the use elected representatives. America was still just a lump of clay, amorous in shape and size, in the pre revolutionary era. However, a shape was beginning to take form. The clay was so deeply oppressed by the British hierarchy that the only facet could model a budding democracy. Wethersfield, Connecticut is an adequate model of a democracy beginning to take form. The period from 1750 to 1780 witnessed Wethersfield take the initial steps in becoming a democracy. Nevertheless, the small town was far from becoming a democratic strong hold. Wethersfield especially made progress in regard to political democracy (the ability of all of the people to partake in the electing of officials as well as being able to express their political tendencies), religious democracy (the ability of any people to practice their religious doctrine freely), and basic social democracy (The ability of each and every person to climb the social ladder based on their contributions and efforts in the community, eg. Receiving a better job and thus a better salary). Even so, certain prejudices prevented Wethersfield from attaining full democratic status. Economic democracy (the people's need to have the opportunity of purchasing and owning land and estates), for instance, progressed in anti democratic direction, as an elite few grew wealthier while poor men remained poor. .
Political conditions in Wethersfield, Connecticut were gradually expanding in a democratic direction. As witnessed by the Distribution of Political Status, there was a steady increase in the number of white males that were allowed to vote as well as those who were able to meet the voting requirements. The number of males that succeeded to authoritarian positions also increased from 32 to 52 in a matter of two decades (Doc G). The people's insatisfaction with British rule is evident in the case of Jared Ingersoll, a New Haven attorney.
