Absolutism and Democracy are just two of the many forms of government. Absolutism is also known as an absolute monarch, this is when a ruler has complete authority over the government and the lives of the people. Democracy is also known as a democratic government, this is a system of government in which the people hold ruling power. These forms of government are both very effective; however, I believe that a democracy was the most effective during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Voltaire, John Locke in Two Treatises on Government, and Montesquieu in The Spirit of the Laws are some of the supporters of a democratic government. I believe a democratic government was the most effective for this time period because it gave the people a voice, which is ideal when you do not want to people to revolt against the government.
To start off, democracies make all men equal under the law unlike monarchies. When everyone is equal it gives you a sense of security. Democracies are a type of government that put the people first, giving them rights and equality. According to Voltaire, “The best government seems to be that in which all ranks of men are equally protected by the laws” (Document 4) When all the people are equal under the law it also prevents any uprising against
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These three branches are the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial. The three branches are important because it creates a separation of powers. A separation of powers is also known as a balance of power, a situation in which nations of the world have roughly equal power. (Chapter 16 Section 2) According to Montesquieu, “There can be no liberty where the executive, legislative, and judicial powers are united in one person or body of persons, because such concentration is bound to result in arbitrary despotism.” (Document 6) In order for a government to function properly, there has to be a balance of