Democracy In America From 1750 To 1776

Between the years of 1750 to 1780, the british colonies were growing. People who came to America looked for rights and opportunities they did not have in Britain. People came for religious freedom and an opportunity to move up in society. Colonists believed America got more democratic than it was in the beginning. But the change was not as democratic as people thought. Democracy is where people in a society can enjoy the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. While there were changes within America, they were not democratic. More people had political opportunities near the 1770s but America became less democratic because of the conflicts between different religious groups and the division of upper and lower classes in terms of social

The people who had money were generally the same throughout this time. In Wethersfield, 1756, The wealthiest adult male was John Chester Sr., and the following four included people from the Belden and Buck families. almost 20 years later in 1774, the Chester family still holds the title of wealthiest, and the Belden and Buck families are still in the top five. Not only did they keep their social status, the assessment of their wealth went up, for example, the Chester family went from 320 pounds to 491. The rich only got richer. Another thing that came with wealth was authority. The leader of the Wethersfield Company of Volunteers was John Chester Jr., previously noted as the richest guy in Wethersfield. This group was being controlled by the people with money. In the agreement of the Company, it is also implied that only these people had a definite say on what happens. It says, “So long as we continue in our present situation of a voluntary Independant Company, we engage to submit… to such decisions as shall be made and given by the majority of the officers we have chosen; and when any difference arises between man and man, it shall be laid before the officers aforesaid, and their decision shall be final...” The company’s decisions will be made by officers appointed by the leaders, and all decisions made would be final. The issues are handled by those with power and money, which are the same people over the span of 20 years. Another thing regarding social class was the difference in lifestyles between poor people and rich people. Reverend Samuel Peters explains how men pay a poll tax in order to vote. Rich people would have no trouble paying the tax, but people who are poor would not be able to vote, giving them no representation. He also says, “The poor man is compelled to… work four days on the highways, serve in the militia four days, and pay three shillings for his hut without a