The Presidential Nominees in 2016. Democrat Hillary Clinton on the left, and Republican Donald Trump on the right. (Photo courtesy of CNN.com)
The image above is of Senator Joseph McCarthy, an example of a demagogue
who rose to power by using American's fear of Communism. The earliest known daguerreotype of Abraham Lincoln thought to be taken in 1846 or 1847 (Library of Congress).
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PurposeThe current 2016 Presidential election can be characterized as unconventional and controversial. The divide between, and within, the Democratic and Republican parties has led to a political atmosphere filled with name-calling, distrust, and dangerous rhetoric. In particular, the Republican candidate, Donald Trump, has increasingly found himself in the news media for controversial speeches, tweets, and actions. At the recent Democratic National Convention, numerous speakers, including President Barack Obama, labeled Trump a "demagogue" who was unfit to be President of the United States.
The fear of a rising demagogue is nothing new in America. There has been many examples of individuals, such as Senator Joseph McCarthy or Governor George Wallace, who have played off of the fears of Americans to gain political power. In fact the Founding Fathers themselves, having just defeated a tyrant king, feared the power an individual could have over the masses and took that into account when creating their new government. They would try to prevent the rise of a demagogue by calling for indirect elections of the President and Senators and specifically limiting executive power in the Constitution through a series of checks and balances. Nearly fifty years later, as tensions were rising over the issue of slavery, Abraham Lincoln would issue his own warning over the dangers of ambitious politicians who would do whatever it took to obtain power. The words spoken in his Lyceum Address in 1838 provide valuable insight into philosophical questions of human nature and serve as a warning and valuable lesson in the rise and danger of demagogues; a lesson that is still relevant today. This website is designed to explore the message in Lincoln's Lyceum Address and provide an avenue to connect Lincoln's words to the current political arena. |
What is a Demagogue? |
The word "demagogue" comes from the Greek words "dema" meaning people, and "gogue" meaning leader. Today the term is used to describe a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument. They use fear, paranoia, and scapegoating to win support for their false claims and promises. While many demagogues fade away quickly, the danger is when one rises so significantly that they are able to suspend civil liberties and transform a democracy into a dictatorship.
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Essential Questions: |
1. What conditions allow for a demagogue to rise to power?
2. What must Americans do to protect themselves from a rising demagogue? |