Community Spotlight: Have faith that democracy works
Stephen Hansen, PhD Guest Columnist
Jan. 19, 2021
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Adams, Madison, Hamilton, and the other founders of the Republic recognized the difficulty of forming a democracy. They understood the necessity of developing processes, structures, and laws that struck a balance between tyranny and mob rule. While they succeeded in setting up that system, they ultimately knew that success depended upon the willingness of the people and leaders to believe in those rules – to have faith that democracy worked.
In the summer of 1864, the belief and faith in democracy were sorely tested. The White people of the South had rejected the basic tenet of majority rule and had lost faith in the democratic processes. Now, three years after secession, the nation and the democracy were on the brink of dissolution. The United States Army of Tennessee under William Sherman was stalled outside of Atlanta while the Army of the Potomac was