Our guest author Erica McPheeters works with the Human Rights Campaign as a consultant and social advocate, focusing on equity, LGBTQ+ rights, and community empowerment.
The Great Rejection
Almost two hundred fifty years ago, the original American colonies decided to pursue the right to freedom. Before freedom came the king. This decision has not only changed the trajectory of human governance, but has influenced every aspect of American ideals for almost two hundred fifty years. By denying the proposed divine right of kings and embracing one of the most important concepts of the United States: democracy. This decision embedded certain principles into the legacy of this country. Power derives from the people and cannot be substituted with birthright or conquests. The United States’ shift from a monarchy to a democracy redesigned the future of the entire world while creating a new reality between the government and citizens.
At the inception of our democracy, colonists were not only displeased with a monarchy government. They were concerned with addressing the greater system that subjected individual citizens to a lack of rights, privileges, and freedoms. Absolute power implies the exclusive role of leaders in making decisions for the masses. Where there is a king, there are only subjects, not citizens. When the thirteen colonies declared independence, it represented the reclamation of all freedoms that humans deserve. They broke away from a deep-rooted history of accepting the inevitable rulership of kings. The Founders of the United States saw something greater for the future of this country. They pictured a republic where power can be held accountable. In this democracy, power is the responsibility of us all. It is now the responsibility of Americans to preserve and protect the democracy the Founders and colonists curated for us.
The Path from Subjects to Citizens
The transformation from colonial subjects to democratic citizens was a relentless fight. Through decades of struggle, compromise, and refinement, the United States was able to form and assert our guiding values— life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These democratic ideals forged through historic events included the Boston Tea Party, the Continental Congress, and the fierce revisions of the Constitution. In these critical moments, Americans consistently chose self-governance over a king.
However, democracy requires more than the absence of a king. The framers of the Constitution understood this well and formulated institutional safeguards against the concentration of power. The checks and balances, branches of government, and federalism system creates a division between any individual or group from gaining control of this democracy. In fact, the Bill of Rights aims to ensure these safeguards by protecting individual freedoms from the reach of the government, despite political pressure or opinion.
Despite this, the Founders did not create the perfect documents. Many marginalized people were excluded from this documentation, including indigenous people, women, enslaved people, and more. In several ways, the exclusion of marginalized people has contributed to the fight for equality within democracy. Over the last couple of centuries, we have seen an expansion of democratic rights for many different people in the United States. Yet, this calls in the legitimacy of our democratic freedoms if people are not receiving them because of who they are.
Building Democratic Governance
Democracy’s power lies not in its efficiency, but in its fundamental respect for humans. A democracy is committed to peaceful resolution of differences to create a better reality for all. Unlike monarchies that rely on the sole opinion and authority of the ruler, democracies assume that collective decision-making will prevail in creating better outcomes for humans than autocracy.
The democratic values that emerged as America pushed out the monarchy—equality, freedom of speech, and the right to petition the government—have been crucial in providing unified rights for all people. In reflection of these values, it is certain that we must address the current social and political landscape of the United States and how that will impact today, tomorrow, and the rest of the country’s future. The alternative to maintaining our freedoms is accepting the rule of those who claim power through inheritance, force, or privilege. This ultimately leads to a journey of oppression and struggle with no sight of change.
Perhaps one of the best features of a democracy is the mechanisms for self-correction. When leaders abuse power or policies fail, democratic systems retain other methods to enact change. Elections, courts, and civic engagement directly alter the trajectory of our lived experiences as individuals and in community. With space for peaceful reform, the United States has maintained a democracy through civil and world wars, economic depressions, and various political crises.
No Kings Day: Democracy’s Ongoing Defense
This Saturday, June 14th, Americans will peacefully gather to participate in ”No Kings Day,” a series of peaceful protests to support the longstanding history and legacy of the U.S. democracy. More than 100 pro-democracy advocacy groups are partnering to organize these peaceful events all across the country, demonstrating that the preservation of our democracy is still a fight.
The peaceful No Kings Day protests represent more than partisan division. Instead, they embody the same fundamental principle that incited the American Revolution: the rejection of unchecked power and the insistence that no individual is above the law or accountability. Millions of people are expected to turn out this weekend to participate in this peaceful direct action.
Organized action reminds us that democracy is not self-sufficient; it requires active participation and inclusion of citizens willing to defend democratic principles, systems, and institutions. Whether through voting, peaceful protests, or civic engagement, it is the duty of the American people to fight for peace and prosperity amid social and political oppression. The commitment the Founders made to serving the people must remain consistent among our political leaders. The choice to reject kings and embrace self-governance remains as relevant today as it was in 1776. Our democracy’s survival depends on citizens who prioritize freedom as an innate responsibility that must be preserved.
View the original article and our Inspiration here