answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

Direct democracy was very much opposed by the framers of the United States Constitution and some signatories of the Declaration of Independence. They saw a danger in majorities forcing their will on minorities. As a result, they advocated a representative democracy.

Alexander Hamilton said, "That a pure democracy if it were practicable would be the most perfect government. Experience has proved that no position is more false than this. The ancient democracies in which the people themselves deliberated never possessed one good feature of government. Their very character was tyranny; their figure, deformity."

User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: What patriot leader feared that a true democracy would lead to tyranny by the majority?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

Why did the founders fear democracy?

The Framers of the Constitution feared that the use of tyranny by the majority could create problems. In other words, the majority could use their power to take away the rights of the minority, as an act of tyranny.


What did the Federalists believe the most apparent source of tyranny was?

Government is not what the federalists feared to be the most apparent source of tyranny. The federalists supported the idea of government. They actually believed that the most apparent source of tyranny was the Majority Rule - that is to say they thought that the popular majority would be able to unite and "trample on the rules of justice". It was the anti-federalists who believed that government was naturally tyrannical.


Why did the framers limit democracy?

They feared an overpowering democracy could be tyrannical.


Which Connecticut signer of the Declaration of the Independence feared democracy and felt the common people were stupied?

Roger Sherman feared democracy and felt the common people were stupid.


What best explains why Americans feared a stronge national government?

They feared the government would take away their individual rights and eventually lead to tyranny. They feared it would be like Britain all over again. :)


Did the framers favor the democracy or republic?

Pure democracy essentially means that majority opinion rules; the Framers feared that this would oppress the rights of minorities. So, they provided a framework for a republican form of government, consisting of elected representatives.


Why did Brutus feel uncomfortable about Caesar being offered the crown?

He feared Caesar's tyranny towards Rome after being crowned.


What did James Madison fear at the constitutional convention?

James Madison feared the domination of a powerful majority and the potential for tyranny. He was concerned that a majority faction could oppress the rights of minority groups or individuals. To address this, Madison advocated for a system of checks and balances to limit the power of the majority and protect individual liberties.


Why cant the US have a direct democracy?

The US has a representative democracy because, at the time the Constitution was framed, it was impracticable to have a direct democracy. Additionally, the Founding Fathers were generally skeptical of democracies (since they understood it differently than we did) and feared the tyranny of the majority. They believed a representative democracy would temper the passions of the masses.


Is direct democracy good for state government?

Pure democracy, as our Founding Fathers knew and feared, is a very poor form of government. Democracy is 3 tigers and a goat voting on what's for dinner. Slavery was OK under a democracy, and the majority opinion has been wrong time after time. It has been said once the electorate understands they can vote to take money from those who earn it, and through legislation, give it to those who do not, that government is doomed. That is why we have a representative republic form of government. Describing ourselves as a "Democracy" didn't start until late in the 20th century.


The Framers of the Constitution understood democracy and republic to mean different things Which concept did the Framers favored democracy or republic?

The Framers knew the direct and pure form of democracy and they feared that the emotional decisions taken by the populace; which is called unrestricted Majority Rule; may violate the individual rights. Therefore they chose the republic form of government in which the people choose individuals to represent them and transform their will into rational and reasonable decisions. after many amendment in the US constitution the government became a democratic republic.. or what we can call "representative or liberal democracy".A republic as opposed to a pure democracy


Did The founding fathers rejected the idea of a representative democracy because they equated it to mob rule.?

Obviously not since they created a representative democracy. What they rejected, because they feared mob rule, was direct democracy with the people as a whole exercising the functions of government. Michael Montagne