American democracy has faced numerous challenges from the 1700s to

modern day. However, the American dream has never faltered for a moment;
even in the face of sure failure, and sure destruction, the United States has
triumphed. The years 1805, 1905, and 2005 were no exception to this tradition;
though at times in history Americans may have had doubts about the future of
American democracy, unwavering patriotism has helped the country to
succeed in the face of global adversity.

The main challenge that faced the United States in 1805 seemed
insurmountable at first. The conflict between the Federalists and Democratic-
Republicans was threatening to tear the country apart. The country was split
between two very different approaches to government: federal power versus
state power. The Federal government argued that they needed authority over
the states in order to ensure harmony within the country and avoid dangerous
sectional conflicts. However, states’ rights activists argued that a tyrannical
British Parliament should not be replaced with a tyrannical Congress.
Ultimately, both sides had good points, but the conflict caused by the
differences in opinion nearly tore the country apart. The first few Presidents
set an important example for future generations. When the Second
Continental Congress was being held, it was clear that George Washington
would become the first president. The trust and faith in General Washington
led the Congress to draft a Constitution with strong Federal power and strong
executive powers. While in office, Washington worked to increase Federal
power in an attempt to end divisions in the nation. However, when
Democratic-Republican Jefferson was elected, American democracy would be
put to the test. Jefferson entered office as a states’ right supporter or a
believer in “strict construction”; he believed that the federal government
should be given as little power as possible; in his opinion the federal
government was very prone to becoming tyrannical. When he first entered
office Jefferson believed that the federal government was granted “certain
definite powers” and that the states were reserved “the residuary mass of right
to their own self-government.” However, Jefferson was forced to alter his
philosophies later in his presidency. One such occasion was when Jefferson
authorized the Louisiana Purchase. In this situation, Jefferson clearly
demonstrated a disregard for the limit of his powers. Jefferson knew that he
did not have the authority to engage in such a deal with France, because it
was not a power specifically granted to him in the Constitution. However, he
completed the Louisiana Purchase anyway because he “thought it his duty” to
risk himself for the good of the United States. In other words, he knew what
he was doing was wrong, but he felt justified in knowing that it was for the
good of the country. There are advantages to each of the policies: strict and
loose construction. The challenge faced in 1805 showed Americans that both
philosophies, when used together, would create a powerful nation.

In 1905, there was another threat to American democracy, however it was

radically new—and never seen before. A new class of multi-millionaire
“captains of industry” or “robber barons” was threatening to remove the
democracy from the American way of life. These industry leaders pulled
themselves up by their own bootstraps and after working hard, and sweating
to achieve the American dream, they were reaping the reward: a luxurious
lifestyle, millions and millions of dollars, and most importantly political
control.  The famous robber barons Carnegie, Rockefeller, and Morgan
consistently fought against worker’s rights, putting down strikes, dissolving
worker’s Unions, and destroying all means of worker protection. Without
unions, laborers were unable to stop these industrial giants from paying them
unfair wages. Not only did the robber barons create unfair job conditions, but
they used their large sums of money to bribe government officials to turn a
blind eye to corruption. On numerous occasions, scandals such as the Credit
Mobilier Scandal robbed the government of millions of dollars. Powerful
political machines rigged elections by bribing incoming immigrants with job
offers in exchange for votes. These multi-million dollar corporations were
threatening a free American way of life, even though that had risen up to the
top of the American system. Most Americans felt that the government should
step in and stop the robber barons to defend the greater good, even at the
expense of economy-stimulating corporations. The government responded to
this crisis slowly, but eventually passed anti-trust legislation like the Sherman
Act to “trust bust” big corporations. The crisis faced in 1905 demonstrated that
the government must look to the greater good of society when protecting
capitalistic enterprise.

The last and most recent challenge facing American democracy in 2005 is the
Patriot Act. After the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States,
Congress passed the Patriot Act with the noble intention of finding and
prosecuting international terrorists operating on American soil; however, the
unfortunate consequences of the Act have been drastic. Many of the Patriot
Act’s provisions are in clear violation of the U.S. Constitution. The Patriot Act
encroaches on sacred First Amendment rights, which protect free speech and
expression, and Fourth Amendment rights, which protect citizens against
“unwarranted search and seizure.” The Patriot Act even authorizes unethical
and unconstitutional surveillance of American citizens with a negligible
improvement in national security. Free speech, free thinking, and a free
American lifestyle face a difficult challenge in the climate of distrust and
constant fear created by the Patriot Act. However, like the challenges the
United States has faced in the past, this one will be solved through diligence
and unwavering patriotism.

American democracy has faced numerous challenges from the 1700s to

modern day. However, even in the face of sure failure and sure destruction,
the United States has triumphed. The challenges were all unique and yet
similar in that they all threaten the ideals of American democracy. In 1805, the
Americans debated Federal versus States’ rights; in 1905, Americans addressed
the problems created by rich industrialists; and in 2005, Americans questioned
the constitutionality of the Patriot Act and continued to fight to defend the
American Creed. These challenges make the United States such a wonderful
place to live. As John F. Kennedy once said, “Democracy is never a final
achievement. It is a call to an untiring effort.”