James Madison s Ideology Of Democracy - 1504 Words

American citizens have many rights and freedoms protected by the constitution and laws passed by the United States government. The United States is the land of the free, the home of the brave, where all men are created equal, and where one has the right to land, liberty, and property. However, for some Americans, it has not always been an easy journey to having these basic rights that all Americans are theoretically born with. African Americans are one of the groups that have been oppressed for centuries and are denied basic human rights that the majority of the nation has. They were discriminated against, oppressed, and segregated from the Caucasians. This is the exact concern that James Madison’s ideology of democracy wanted to prevent.†¦show more content†¦Coupled with the fact that Jim Crow laws were enacted in the 1880’s and carried well through to the 20th century up until 1965. These laws allowed segregation in all public facilities such as water founta ins, schools, bathrooms, public transportation, and restaurants. Furthermore, the supreme court ruled that the civil rights act of 1875 was unconstitutional. â€Å"Then in 1883, the supreme court ruled that the civil rights act of 1875 was unconstitutional because Congress did not have the power to forbid racial discrimination in private businesses† (pg 347). This showed the nation that the government was uninterested in the rights of African Americans. â€Å"The supreme court validated these practices in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) in establishing the â€Å"separate but equal† doctrine, officially permitting segregation as long as blacks had equal facilities† (pg 347). This was unconstitutional as the Courts soon realized â€Å"then came the landmark decision Brown V. Board of Education (1954) The ruling was revolutionary because the Courts finally saw the oppressive nature of the â€Å"separate but equal† clause. In Madisonian democracy there is an emphasis on the prevention of a tyranny whether it be from a minority or a majority as well as fragmented powers in government. James Madison said that humans are self-serving and if men were perfect there would be no need for government. â€Å"The interest of the man must beShow MoreRelatedThe Government Into A Viable Operating Legislation1345 Words   |  6 PagesIf James Madison were here today he would be pleased to see how his thinking has molded the government into a viable operating legislation. Using the policy procedures depicted in All Roads Lead to Congress: the $300 billion fight over highway funding by Costas Panagopoulos and Joshua Schank, this essay will identify key areas within the amendment process of the â€Å"Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act – A Legacy for Users† (SAFETEA-LU), where James Madison’s beliefsRead MoreThe Supreme Court s Marbury V. 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