Self-Government

Definition

Self-government refers to the ability of a community or political entity to govern itself independently, without external control or interference. It is a fundamental principle of democracy that allows people to make decisions about their own affairs and determine the policies that affect their lives.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The concept of self-government was a key driver in the American colonies' push for independence from Great Britain.
2. Thomas Paine's pamphlet 'Common Sense' played a crucial role in promoting the idea of self-government and the need for the American colonies to break free from the British monarchy.
3. The Declaration of Independence asserted the colonies' right to self-government and their rejection of the British government's authority.
4. The establishment of state governments and the U.S. Constitution were important steps in the realization of self-government for the American people.
5. Self-government was a central tenet of the American Revolution, as the colonists sought to create a new political system that empowered the people and limited the power of the central government.

Review Questions

• Explain how the concept of self-government was a driving force behind the American Revolution.
  • The concept of self-government was a key motivator for the American colonists in their push for independence from Great Britain. The colonists felt that they were not being adequately represented by the British government and that their ability to make decisions about their own affairs was being undermined. The publication of Thomas Paine's 'Common Sense' further galvanized support for the idea of self-government, and the Declaration of Independence explicitly asserted the colonies' right to govern themselves. The establishment of state governments and the U.S. Constitution were important steps in the realization of self-government for the American people, as they sought to create a new political system that empowered the people and limited the power of the central government.
• Analyze the role of Thomas Paine's 'Common Sense' in promoting the idea of self-government among the American colonists.
  • Thomas Paine's pamphlet 'Common Sense' played a crucial role in promoting the idea of self-government and the need for the American colonies to break free from the British monarchy. Paine's writing was widely read and resonated with the colonists, who were increasingly frustrated with the lack of representation and control they had over their own affairs under British rule. Paine's arguments in favor of establishing an independent American republic, where the people held sovereign power, helped to galvanize support for the American Revolution and the pursuit of self-government. The impact of 'Common Sense' was significant, as it contributed to the growing sentiment among the colonists that they had the right and the ability to govern themselves, without the interference of the British government.
• Evaluate the extent to which the American Revolution and the establishment of the U.S. Constitution were successful in achieving the goal of self-government for the American people.
  • The American Revolution and the establishment of the U.S. Constitution were significant steps in the realization of self-government for the American people, but the extent to which this goal was fully achieved is debatable. On one hand, the Revolution and the Constitution succeeded in creating a new political system that empowered the people and limited the power of the central government, as envisioned by the concept of self-government. The establishment of state governments and the division of power between the federal and state levels were important mechanisms for ensuring that the people had a voice in the decisions that affected their lives. However, the Constitution also contained compromises that limited the extent of self-government, such as the continued existence of slavery and the lack of representation for certain groups. Additionally, the ongoing debates and struggles over the interpretation and application of the Constitution have highlighted the challenges of fully realizing the ideal of self-government. Ultimately, the American Revolution and the Constitution laid the foundation for self-government, but the pursuit of this goal has been an ongoing process that continues to evolve.

Related terms

Democracy: A system of government in which power is vested in the people, who rule either directly or through elected representatives.

Sovereignty:

The supreme power or authority within a territory or political entity, which is not subject to external control.

Republicanism:

A political ideology that emphasizes the importance of a republic, where the head of state is not a monarch and the people hold sovereign power.