1: The Philosophical Foundations of the United States Political System
- Page ID
- 124351
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Explore the topic's sub-chapters to learn more about the philosophical foundations of the United States political system.
Supporting Question
- What were the roots of the ideas that influenced the development of the United States political system?
Democracy comes from the Greek words "demos" and "kratos," meaning "rule by the people" (Defining Democracy, Museum of Australian Democracy). Although the term does not appear in either the Declaration of Independence or the United States Constitution, democracy is the foundation for government in this country. Americans believe in government of the people, by the people, for the people.
Democracy, as a framework of government, has evolved over the centuries and now includes concepts that are the foundations of civic and political life in our country: freedom, justice, liberty, individual rights and responsibilities, shared power, and a system of checks and balances among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the government.
Democracies Around the World
- "free, fair, contested, and regularly scheduled elections";
- "practically all adults have the right to vote and to participate in the electoral process";
- "minority parties are able to criticize and otherwise oppose the ruling party or parties";
- a constitution "guarantees the rule of law," established limited government, and protects individuals' rights of speech, press, petition, assembly and association. (Patrick, 2006, p.7)
In the second decade of the 21st century, democracy and democratic institutions continue to be under assault around the world. The Autocratization Turns Viral: Democracy Report 2021 from the V-Dem Institute at the University of Gottenberg, Sweden notes that although the world is more democratic than it was in the 1970s or 1980s, democracy is on the decline worldwide and the level of democracy experienced by common citizens is at its lowest level since 1990. In many countries (Hungry, India, Cambodia, Pakistan, Philippines, Turkey and more), liberal democracy is being replaced by electoral autocracy where political systems have an illusion of multi-party democracy, but free and fair elections do not happen. Instead, strongmen who do not value democratic norms have risen to power.
The Nations in Transition 2020 report from Freedom House reviewed what it calls a "decade of democratic deficits," in which countries experiencing declines in democracy have exceeded countries with gains every year since 2010. In Central Europe, the report notes, there is a growth of "hybrid regimes" in Poland and Hungry where authoritarian leaders have created quasi-autocracies by undermining the independent judiciary, attacking the free press, curtailing civil liberties, and spreading disinformation and propaganda to inflame people's attitudes toward outsiders such as immigrants and asylum-seekers. Despite these developments, the Freedom House report notes, citizen protests against corruption and for environmental protections, particularly in Ukraine and Armenia, represent a significant counterweight to anti-democracy in the region. Democracy - Our World in Data and Democracy 2019,The Economist magazine’s annual index offer additional perspectives on the place of democracy in the world today.
Topic 1 of the eBook
Topic 1 explores the philosophical and historical origins of the United States system of democratic government, beginning with Ancient Athens and the Roman Republic and including how Enlightenment thinkers, North American colonial governments, and First People tribes influenced the writing of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the structure of U.S. government.
The governments and politics of Greece and Rome profoundly influenced America's founding generation. Comparing the educational backgrounds of George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison, historian Thomas E. Ricks (2020) found Greco-Roman learning was "part of the culture; a way of looking at the world and set of values."
Foundations of the U.S. Political System: Media Literacy Activities Choice Board
- 1.1: The Government of Ancient Athens
- Parallels between ancient Athens and America, in the context of democratic ideals. The role of athletic competitions in ancient Greece and America, particularly the performance of Native American athletes in running. How school classrooms can become more democratic spaces.
- 1.2: The Government of the Roman Republic
- The influence of the Roman Republic in America's system of government. Slave revolts in ancient Rome and in the Americas, including the Haitian Revolution. The continued influence of Latin in modern-day English.
- 1.3: Enlightenment Thinkers and Democratic Government
- The ideas contributed to principles of American government by Enlightenment thinkers such as Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau. Female writers and activists from the Enlightenment era who are often overlooked, such as Mary Wollstonecraft and Olympe de Gouges. Women from many eras who profoundly affected the fields of science, math, or politics.
- 1.4: British Influences on American Government
- British influences on American government, in the form of the Mayflower Compact, colonial governments, and who was allowed to vote in early America. The role of dissent in American politics, as modeled by early religious dissenters such as Anne Hutchinson and Mary Dyer. Modern discussions about lowering the voting age.
- 1.5: Native American Influences on U.S. Government
- Governing principles of the Iroquois Confederacy and the ways in which they might have influenced concepts in the U.S. Constitution. The differing accounts from settlers and Native Americans regarding the conflict known as either the Peskeompskut-Wissatinnewag Massacre or the Battle of Great Falls. Evaluating the modern-day legacy of Jeffrey Amherst, originator of the idea of distributing "smallpox blankets" to Native Americans.