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Clara Mason
Cindy Rogers
English 12
13 October 2016
Presidential Race Research Paper
I woke up this morning racing for time, I need to race to the store, Drive carefully,
don't make it a race! These are all statements I have heard my parents say many times while
growing up, but in actuality there was no big finish line or stand of spectators cheering their
race on. Each statement perfectly described a life situation that is relatable because of the
descriptive word race. There are many types of races taking place every day in America, such
as auto races, cycling races, horse races, and even baby crawling races. All are different but each
brings a degree of interest and involvement to the viewers. Even the two man wheelbarrow race
brought a fun competitive spirit to the sport at the old county fairs. The first race ever recorded
took place in thousands of years ago. The origins of the Olympics and marathon running are
shrouded by myth and legend, though the first recorded games took place in 776 BCE. Running
in Ancient Greece can be traced back to these games of 776 BCE (Spivey). It started the
beginning of the Olympic games- which includes some of the most popular and watched races
ever followed by the world. Just this past summer the world viewed Usain Bolt, a runner from
Jamaica, one of the smallest countries in the world, win his third gold medal racing in 100 meter
dash. Bolt claimed his unprecedented third gold medal in a row in the 100, in a time of 9.81
seconds, racing past his competition at Olympic Stadium. Simultaneously, American swimmer
Michael Phelps, from one of the ten largest countries in the world, smashed the record in the 200

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meter fly. Phelps made up for one of the rare losses in his brilliant career by winning the 200meter butterfly, a triumph that sent him climbing into the stands to kiss his 3-month-old son
Boomer (Tribune) Racing is exciting to participate in and watch, but not all races are physical
or mental. The American presidential race is a political race that takes place once every four
years in designated voting booths in every neighborhood across the country. Amazingly, every
United States citizen that is registered to vote helps choose the winner and determine the
outcome of the presidential Race (see Figure 1). Your vote is your voice, that your vote is your
tool of political empowerment, and that change in this nation can best be brought about through
your vote (Alnatour).
The United States presidential race is unique, powerful and unlike any other leadership
race in the world because of its established democratic foundation, presidential qualifications,
and involvement of their free and diverse citizens; making every vote important in choosing the
winner. Americans are free to cast their vote or not cast their vote for the next president, but
ultimately our presidents are chosen by the voice of the people and not finish lines.

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Fig. 1. Cartoon of American presidential voters, New York, New York, from The Huffington
Post, You Can Make a Difference: Why Every Single US Citizen Should Vote." 29 Feb. 2016.
Web. 10 Oct. 2016.

In 1620 two ships, the Speedwell (which needed to turn around because it was found
unfit to make the journey) and Mayflower, set off from England and sailed the ocean blue filled
with pilgrims in search of a new life of freedom in a fresh new land. In late 1620, two small
ships crammed with about 105 men and boys set sail from England across the Atlantic (Bower,
Hart, Lobdell 17). They said goodbye to their families knowing they would never see them again
and risked their life for change and a better governing system for future generations. Without the
courage, vision and sacrifice of these early settlers, America would not have been founded on
freedom, life and liberty; and our country could have been lead in a different direction. Over one
half of the first one hundred and five settlers died within the first year after they arrived. By the
first winter, more than half the settlers had died of sickness and starvation (Bower, Hart,
Lobdell 17). That was just the start of the long harsh road it took to establish our great country of
freedom and ultimately a governing body that is of the people, by the people, and for the people;
and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the
earth ("The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln"). America decided on a democratic
government because it wanted the people to run the country or The rule of many and not a
King or Monarchy (Fox 15). As felt by Benjamin Franklin he held true to a fundamental ideal of
faith in the wisdom of the common citizen that was manifest in an appreciation for democracy
and an opposition to all forms of tyranny (Isaacson 493). Colonial America went to war against
England on April 19, 1775, Suddenly, the shot heard around the world was fired from an

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undetermined gun, and a cloud of musket smoke soon covered the green. When the brief Battle
of Lexington ended, the American Revolution had begun (History.com staff). Early settlers,
upset with duties on sugar, restrictions on trade and England blocking Western settlements had
come to a breaking point with the Stamp Act where they were taxed but had no voice in
Parliament: No taxation without representation (Fox 91). The American settlers went to war
and gave their lives to break away from Englands power and establish its own freedom of
religion and government.
There are other forms of governments in the world that have different beliefs and forms
of directing their people. For example, Monarchy, governments run by a king and its leadership
positions inherited through a family blood line. The powers of government are concentrated in
the person of a hereditary ruler. Aristotle called it the rule of the one (Fox 15). Many countries
around the world have been led this way for hundreds of years. Some such countries are
England, France and Spain. France was led this way until the great French Revolution in 1780
when the deprived peasants, farmers, and the rest of the lower class revolted against the wealthy
family monarchy of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. The revolution was caused by the
extremist poverty of the lower class and the heavy taxes put upon them by the monarchy family
using these taxes to support their flamboyant and indulgent lifestyles. Another form of
government which directs a small majority of the people in the world is communism. This form
of government is run by an elite group of rulers with a strong military backing which make all
decisions for the people in which they are forced to comply. Government owns almost all the
land, industry and business; controls work; gives out goods according to need instead of how
hard a person works (Davis 140). An example of countries lead by communism is Russia and
China. Lastly, the governing form of dictatorship, or being seized and exercised by force

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controls countries such as Cuba and North Korea (Bower, Hart, and Lobdell 14). A dictatorship
government is one leader who controls and directs the affairs of a country and is appointed by a
coup with a military backing which gives them power to take over a country.
When America's founding forefathers started the daunting task of constructing America's
democratic government they wanted to take only what was good from other forms of leadership.
They were inspired with three powers supporting the checks and balances system of presidential,
judicial and legislative branches of government: The key element in the system of checks and
balances is the distribution of shared powers among the three branches of government (Dudley,
Dubnick, and Gitelson 57). The presidential and legislative branches are chosen by the people;
giving the power of voice to the people of America to be represented and directed by their choice
and not a family line of authority, military group or self-appointed dictatorship. This unique form
of government is unlike any other in the world and has persevered making America the strongest
country in the world.
To enter the American presidential race a person needs to have certain qualifications that
make them eligible to run for President. The list is not long but well thought out and each
requirement is very important. First a person must have been born in America, at least thirty
five years old, and a resident within the United States for 14 years, to run for President
(Madison). These are all important requirements because it protects the American Citizens from
an unwanted deviation of power gaining control in our government.

George Washington, our first President and chief general during the Revolutionary War
against England, was so popular with the people and was held in such high esteem; he was

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appointed or unanimously voted by an electoral college as our First President of America. The
qualities that made him so popular and first choice with the people were his ethical values and
good moral judgment; he was humble but carried confident leadership skills, and he valued and
respected the people. This was the only time a president in America did not have a running mate
who represented a different thought pattern of voters. The United States presidential election of
178889 was the first quadrennial presidential election. It was held from Monday, December 15,
1788, to Saturday, January 10, 1789 In the election, George Washington was unanimously
elected for the first of his two terms as president, and John Adams became the first vice
president (The Complete Correspondence). America soon found followers in mainly two
different forms of beliefs- either Democrats or Republicans. The debate and controversy that
evolved as our nation struggled to deal with complex domestic and foreign issues slowly brought
about the rise of divisions in the population in the government-divisions that would lead to the
advancement of political parties (Dudley, Dubnick, and Gitelson, 170). Each party or group of
people stand for different directions they want the government to be involved in their lives, but
both parties believe in the constitution and the structure of the American government. The
Constitution gave more Americans more rights than any country had ever given its people. Its
the oldest working constitution in the world, partly because it provides for its own amendment or
change (Davis 54).
Our present day presidential political race is much different from the early American
elections because of our advance communications. With a flick of a button we can turn on the
radio, TV, computer, and smartphone to watch or listen to a live broadcast of the Presidential
candidates. Millions of dollars are spent in advertising each candidate's views on beliefs in
leadership and reform. It is said that Political TV ad spending will top $4.4 billion for federal

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races this year, up from $3.8 billion in 2012, it's all politics (Kurtzleben). Air travel allows a
candidate to be in several different states campaigning and giving speeches all within the same
day. The technology and innovation in America has improved and our system of government and
presidential election is still the most advanced, with citizen involvement in all the world and
thought out the history of time.
Candidates each have their own way of running their campaign for president but the
people have the say in whom they want and when the vote for change happens. I am only
seventeen so I do not qualify yet to cast my vote for president- I am just one year short of the
voting age of eighteen. When I turn eighteen years old I can register to vote in the next election
which takes place every four years- our next election will be 2020. The Twenty-sixth
Amendment (Amendment XXVI) to the United States Constitution prohibits the states and the
federal government from using age as a reason for denying the right to vote to citizens of the
United States who are at least eighteen years old (26th Amendment).

Voting takes place in the designated month of November. Cities and towns are divided
into districts which determine where people in that designated area go to vote. Voting booths go
up in schools, fire departments and public buildings all across America and by freedom of
choice, registered American citizens cast their vote as to who they feel best represents their
beliefs in how America should be run; Many citizens would argue that the freedom to select
political leaders is one of the most important differences between a democracy and a dictatorship
or a communist government (Dudley, Dubnick, and Gitelson 207).

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Slow and steady wins the race!- This is the moral and lesson learned from one of the
first races that I ever learned about. This race did not take place in a huge stadium, televised
over the entire world or earned through an election ballot. Yet it is one of the most popular races
the world has ever known. It has influenced the world in many of the decisions ever made; just
as a presidential race impacts the world for America's power, foreign relations and progression.
Many people have never read the story The Tortoise and the Hare but have heard about this
iconic race and have identified with it or chosen their favorite contestant. Past and present
presidential races can be very similar, but from insightful research the record shows how
important every vote counts in representing the voice of our country; and that each time we cast
our ballot it is done with pride in our country and in the governmental system. America's
democratic governmental process of electing its president has outlasted the test of time and
stands as a powerhouse compared to the rest of the world. It is an example of how a democratic
foundation, sound presidential qualifications, and involvement of free, diverse citizens with a
commitment to hard work and progression will make America succeed. Our country will
continue to move forward and be the strong example of how freedom of choice can elect its best
leaders in the continual every fourth year race for president.