Has the world ever been more democratic than it is now?
Critical Analysis
Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, any links below, your big brain, and your knowledge of American government and politics:
Based on the data from the visual above, about what portion of the world is currently democratic?
Based on the data from the visual above, describe one long term trend (since about 1800) that you see in the data.
Based on the data from the visual above, describe one short term trend (since about 2000) that you see in the data.
200 years ago, everyone lacked democratic rights. Now, billions of people have them. But why? List one cause of the long term trend towards global democracy.
Based on the chart, predict the state of global democracy in 50 years.
The word Democracy comes from Greek for “rule by the people,” which means that ultimate political power belongs to the people. According to Michael Mandelbaum, the democracy scholar and author of Democracy’s Good Name, democracy depends upon free and fair elections and civil rights and civil liberties for all. Define Democracy in your own words.
Using the definition above, and based on the data from the visual below, how old is American democracy?
Describe how the Trump Presidency and the January 6 Insurrection have impacted American democracy.
Based on your knowledge of American politics as well as the definition of democracy above, make a claim about whether the U.S. will become more democratic after the next election.
As we have discovered, democracies all have free and fair elections and protect individuals’ civil rights and civil liberties. Think about the current state of democracy in the United States and list the most powerful step the U.S. government could take to increase American democracy.
Write and Discuss
Take ten minutes to write about the question at the top of the page and then discuss with your classmates.
Act on your Learning
Contact President Joseph Biden and let him know what you think about his aviator sunglasses and also suggest one thing he could do to strengthen American democracy.
Get Creative
If democracy were a Marvel super hero what would it be?
Learning Extension
Explore Our World In Data: Share of Democracies and read the introduction of Michael Mandelbaum’s Democracy’s Good Name
