American Government in the 21st Century The Birth of Democracy and Modern-Day Politics
“An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as a free people.” – Thomas Jefferson These words by President Thomas Jefferson ring as true today as they did in the early days of the new United States as schools were established to confer upon young Americans a sense of the common good, and as a place of training for leaders in the republic.
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the magazine of cheshire academy
At a time when the political divides of this country become more apparent and seemingly grow deeper each day, the importance of an understanding of the function of government at all levels, and the roots of American governance, is of utmost importance. It is into this landscape that the History and Social Science Department launched its newest course, American Government and the Constitution, this past fall. This year-long course is designed to engage students on a variety of topics from the roots of democracy in Ancient Greece and Rome to the founding ideals and interpretations of the Constitution over the last 234 years. Reaching beyond the textbook and historical documents, this first cohort of students received a real-time education via the 2020 election cycle and the contested presidential electoral count. Throughout the fall, students were able to see the ideals of the Founding Fathers come alive in news reports and Twitter messages, and brought opinions, questions, and sometimes confusion into classroom conversations. Some students were even able to put the 26th Amendment to
