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 newUnited States as schools were established to confer upon young Americans a sense of the common good,a nd as a place of training for leaders in the republic.

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Reaching beyond the textbook and historical documents, this first cohort of students received a real-time education via the 2020 election cycle and the contested presidential electoral count.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 use themselves and registered to vote. These individuals were able to help set record turnout for the under-30 voting bloc; over 50% in the 2020 election.

Matthew Fonts

According to Government teacher Matthew Fonts, students exhibited both curiosity and uneasiness as they were bombarded 24 hours a day by legal, government, and healthcare related topics across all their social media platforms. “They brought these topics into the classroom, allowing us to connect more concretely with questions of civic virtue, democratic ideals, and active participation in government,” Fonts said.

The mission statement of Cheshire Academy is in part dedicated to recognizing the importance of empowering students to be active global citizens. The offering of American Government and the Constitution speaks directly to this mission as students, regardless of national citizenship, obtain an inside look into the functions and realities of a powerful, and ever-changing government system. Department Chair Jennifer Dillon could not be more enthusiastic about the addition of this course to the curriculum. “Since the end of World War II, the United States has been a leading global power and has fought to preserve and promote democracy abroad, but as a still young nation in global terms, Americans are continuously working on our democratic system and striving to live up to the notion of a more perfect union. As educators in an increasingly interconnected and interdependent world, I see it as imperative that we offer students from across the globe an opportunity to better understand the historical roots and modern workings of our political system.”

As educators in an increasingly interconnected and interdependent world, I see it as imperative that we offer students from across the globe an opportunity to better understand the historical roots and modern workings of our political system.

As the course continued through the second semester, students took a close look at all constitutional amendments with discussions rooted in how and why these changes were made, and what their impact has been on American society.

Looking ahead to the next school year, while there will not be the excitement of a presidential election to stir conversation, teachers will work to bring attention and interest to a municipal election cycle. While the average person—domestic and abroad— tunes into American politics every four years, the students of 2021-2022 will come to learn the importance of City Council and Board of Education races. Those who hold these offices have incredible day-to-day impact on the lives of people across the United States and will thus get the spotlight they deserve as part of the larger system of governance. Just as the American government changes with each election cycle, this class will continue to evolve and incorporate issues of the day, in service, as Jefferson said, of the survival of a free people.