During the 1500’s there was a debate if the government should be Absolutism, or Democracy. There both really good ways to live but Democracy had a better limit. Democracy gave the people and the government freedom of speech, it limited the power of the government, and it protected them. Absolutism had a absolute monarch running the country.
Democracy gave the people freedom of speech. Everyone deserves to speak their mind. Voltaire said “I may disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”. Voltaire believed that the people should have the right to speak when they feel like they need to say something, not when others say they can, or when they do speak they get punished for not saying the right thing. Everyone deserves to be able to speak there mind and be protected when they do. Having Democracy rule would limit the power of the government, so “there can be no liberty where executive, legislative, & judicial powers are united in one person or body of persons, because such concentration is bound to result in arbitrary despotism” said Montesquieu. Limiting the power of government was better for the people because the people had more rights to the government its self. Democracy made a government that is strong and ready to protect the people’s natural rights. “To protect natural rights governments are established” (doc.5). The government has power to make laws, protect the rights and give people there freedom. Sometime the government has the right to take away our natural rights or make new laws. The government would have to be careful for whom they give power to; if they give power to an Absolute Monarch he can take complete control over our whole government. Democracy was a better government than absolutism, because having absolutism got you nowhere. “Men have less hesitation in offending a man who is loved than one who is feared, for love is held by a bond of obligation which, as men are wicked, is broken whenever personal advantage suggests it” (doc.1). Having a government of Absolutism is the same as have an Absolute Monarch run the country.
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