Antisemitism
A Threat to a Pluralistic American Democracy
Lesson developed in partnership with ADL
Have you heard this expression before? In what context?
What does this motto mean?
What is your definition of democracy?
Democracy
“The will of the people is the source of legitimacy…”
“Democracy provides an environment that respects human rights and fundamental freedoms, and in which the freely expressed will of people is exercised. People have a say in decisions and can hold decision-makers to account.”
“The values of freedom, respect for human rights and the principle of holding periodic and genuine elections by universal suffrage are essential elements of democracy [and] the protection and effective realization of human rights.”
Declaration of Independence
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”
What democratic principles are found in the Declaration of Independence?
Was this an inclusive vision of equality and rights? Why or why not?
Enslaved African Americans were denied freedom and equal rights when the United States was founded.
Indigenous Americans were treated with hostility and forcibly removed from ancestral territories throughout U.S. history.
Women did not have the right to vote in the United States until the early 20th century, as one way in which they did not have full or equal participation in democratic life.
How is a “pluralistic democracy” different from the vision of America’s founding?
What makes a “pluralistic democracy” possible?
Do you think the United States is a “pluralistic democracy” today? Why or why not?
President George Washington promised Jews in the United States that the newly established country would give “to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.” The U.S. became the first country to provide Jews equal rights.
The efforts of Black abolitionists like Frederick Douglass and the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments to the U.S. Constitution expanded American democracy by ending slavery and establishing equal protection for all.
After decades of activism, the suffrage movement succeeded in ratifying the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote.
Years of marches, demonstrations, and activism by tens of thousands of participants in the Civil Rights Movement resulted in the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which addressed racial discrimination in voting.
In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that banning same-sex marriage was unconstitutional, expanding LGBTQIA+ rights and freedoms in the United States.
Forming a General Principle
With a partner, review the statements and data about antisemitism and pluralistic democracy found on the handout.
Establish a general principle that describes the relationship between antisemitism and the state of pluralistic democracy.
Antisemitism x Democracy
Antisemitism is not simply a form of religious, racial, or ethnic prejudice. It also uniquely functions as a conspiracy theory rooted in lies about Jewish power and influence that are used to sow distrust in our institutions and our democracy. Because of this, it poses a threat far beyond the Jewish community.
This tells us that the fight for democracy and for the safety of all communities requires countering antisemitism because it animates and fuels broader extremism and hate.
–Amy Spitalnick, CEO Jewish Council for Public Affairs
With a new partner, discuss your general principle and compare it to Amy Spitalnick’s claim.
Upholding Democracy
Timothy Snyder is a historian of the Holocaust who has generated a list of twenty lessons to defend against tyranny and authoritarianism in order to protect life in a pluralistic democracy.
As you watch, take notes: �Why are these lessons important for defending pluralistic democracy?
After you watch, in small groups discuss these questions:
Image Credits
Image Credits