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Need help with my writing homework on The Privacy and Rights of the Individual in a Republic. Write a 1250 word paper answering; The American Revolution was fought for three main reasons. The elite class sought self-governance, separate from Britain, so they could control the colonies themselves in order to further their self-interests. They also wanted to keep slavery and take more land from the Native Americans. Britain was leaning toward abolishing slavery and had outlawed seizing land. George Washington is a prime example of that moneyed elite. He owned hundreds of slaves and was a land speculator. The Founding Fathers’ goals were not as altruistic as many history books describe them. However, they needed the common man to fight the war so they were forced to cede some power to them in the form of democratic principles. Neither the Constitution nor Declaration of Independence contains the word democracy. In fact, the Founders often spoke out against the concept. Thomas Jefferson spoke of the “tyranny of the majority.” A Massachusetts Delegate to the Continental Congress, Elbridge Gerry, cautioned against an “excesses of democracy.” Future first Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, who advocated a restricted monarchy, declared that the people “seldom judge or determine right.” Virginia Governor Edmund Randolph wanted a government that would “restrain the fury of democracy.” (Marriott, 2003). It was obvious to the Founders that the majority would vote for whatever it thought it wanted on a whim without regard to the life, liberty or happiness of others. Democracy describes a government ruled by a vote of the majority and includes a governing body to manage the mundane details of running a state but the majority rules over all. There may also be a constitution of sorts but with a majority vote, any or all provisions could be altered or eliminated. A true democracy would be oppressive and chaotic, likely more so than an autocratic regime. (Marriott, 2003) In a republic, citizens have indirect influence over the affairs of the state due to the power of the ballot box.