Is monarchy more or less effective than democracy?

In the past most countries were monarchies. One man or woman had complete control over there country and whatever they wanted was made into law. In the present day the United states in a democracy. There is a system of checks and balances that make sure no one person can gain too much power. A democracy is usually more successful than a monarchy.

In England Henry VIII was the monarch from 1497 through 1547. He maintained power by Separating from the pope even though he still kept the main Catholic believes in England. He separated from the church and created his own religion. His church was known as the Church of England. It was similar to the Roman Catholic Church except it was not ruled by the pope. Henry was head of this church which gave him even more power. In his new church he was allowed to divorce his current wife Catharine of Argon. She only gave him a daughter named Mary. He did this so that he could marry a woman that would produce him a male heir to the throne. Parliament also helps keep Henry in control. They passed the laws and made sure all church decisions passed through the king. All contact with the Roman Catholic Church was forbidden. The king was the head of his church and anyone who didn't follow him and recognize that he was the church leader was executed. After he divorced his wife he married Anne Boleyn who also gave him a daughter. Her name was Elizabeth I. Henry would go one to have a total of six wives. His wife Jane Seymour would give him his first son. His name was Edward. During Henry’s rein he also tried to put down the protestant movement in England. He had thousands executed so no one could threaten his power. Henry’s rein was devastating to the English economy. After he split from the church the economy was built up when he sold the church land in England. This would have been a good thing except he spent the money and even more on his navy and palaces, none of which helped the country. Henry also used the money he borrowed from Parliament to fund wars which sent him further into dept (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_VIII_of_England#Power_and_authority). The rein of this monarch was destructive to his country.

Soon after Elizabeth was born her father Henry VIII divorced her mother Anne Boleyn. Anne was then executed because she couldn't produce the heir that Henry wanted. After the death of Henry, Elizabeth's half brother Edward became king. He was very young so a council had to make his decisions. Edward was very ill and soon died. After his death Elizabeth's half sister Mary took the throne. Her reign didn't last very long either. Mary didn't have any children to secede her. She soon died and finally Elizabeth took the throne in 1558 at the age of 25. Elizabeth was a better liked ruler. Her rein was known as the golden age because she united the power of parliament, the church, and herself (http://www.royal.gov.uk/HistoryoftheMonarchy/KingsandQueensofEngland/TheTudors/ElizabethI.aspx). Elizabeth later in her rein writes a speech in which she shows how opposed she is to marriage. She writes "Concerning Marriage, which ye so earnestly move me to, I have been long since perswaded, that I was sent into this world by God to think and doe those things chiefly which may tend to his Glory. Hereupon have I chosen that kind of life which is most free from the troublesome Cares of this world, that I might attend the Service of God alone" (http://englishhistory.net/tudor/eliz1-writings.html). Elizabeth’s rein was not perfect but was better than her father’s.

In the United States freedom is the main driving force. The early colonies defeated the British Empire to gain freedom and wrote documents to help govern the new country correctly like the constitution and the declaration of independence. There is an elected president who can be removed if he threatens the government. Any laws have to be approved by both the president and the federal government. The constituion says, “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America” (http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution.html). This shows how powerful freedom is as a driving force. This series of checks and balances help to run the country efficiently and correctly with great success. This government helped the United States to become the main superpower in the world (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States#Government_and_elections).

The United States’ success as a country proves that a democracy in better than a monarchy. In a monarchy the ruler could be bad and the people wouldn’t have a say in what he wants to do. In a democracy the people help to govern them and can elect the people who make laws for them. How well country is governed depends mostly on the type of government and the people part that government.

Sources:

"Constitution of the United States - Official." National Archives and Records Administration. Web. 13 May 2010. http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution.html.

"Elizabeth I: Poetry." EnglishHistory.net. Web. 13 May 2010. http://englishhistory.net/tudor/eliz1-writings.html.

"Henry VIII of England." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 13 May 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_VIII_of_England#Power_and_authority.

“History of the Monarchy.” Web. 13 May 2010. http://www.royal.gov.uk/HistoryoftheMonarchy/KingsandQueensofEngland/TheTudors/ElizabethI.aspx.

"United States." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 13 May 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States#Government_and_elections.

Picture Sources:

"File:Elizabeth I of England - Coronation Portrait.jpg." Wikimedia Commons. Web. 13 May 2010. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Elizabeth_I_of_England_-_coronation_portrait.jpg.

"File:Henry8England.jpg." Wikimedia Commons. Web. 13 May 2010.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Henry8England.jpg.