Vox populi vox dei: the voice of the people is the voice of God. The slogan was useful for those who first attempted to substitute the people for God as the source of political authority. Their attempt was ultimately so successful that God no longer seems to be needed in government.

The quote by Edmund Morgan explores the evolution of political authority, focusing on the phrase "Vox populi vox dei", which translates to "the voice of the people is the voice of God". This slogan originally served as a way to assert that political authority should derive from the will of the people, rather than from divine right or religious figures. It was particularly useful for early political movements that sought to replace God as the ultimate source of authority with popular sovereignty. Morgan suggests that the idea gained such traction that God no longer seems to play a significant role in the justification of governmental power, as modern political systems increasingly turn to the people as the ultimate authority.

Morgan’s statement reflects his view on how the shift from theocracy to democracy fundamentally changed the way we understand legitimacy in government. By invoking the phrase, early proponents of democracy effectively elevated the people to the position once occupied by divine authority. In doing so, they made the will of the people the new standard for establishing political legitimacy, replacing the need for divine justification. As a result, modern governments often rely on democratic principles such as elections and public consent, rather than religious justification, for their authority.

The origin of this quote can be found in Morgan’s writings on the intersection of religion and politics in early American history. As a historian, Morgan often explored how political ideologies and theocratic beliefs coexisted and evolved in early America, especially in the colonial period. His analysis of the phrase "Vox populi vox dei" illustrates the transition from a theocratic model of authority to a democratic one, marking the triumph of popular sovereignty over religious or monarchic rule.

Ultimately, Morgan’s words reflect the shift in how political authority is justified and understood. What began as an assertion of the people’s voice being divinely sanctioned eventually led to a situation where secular or democratic principles alone govern the legitimacy of authority, rendering God less central in political discourse. This historical shift underscores the growing importance of popular sovereignty and democratic governance in modern societies.