Trinity Forum Conversations

The Fall, the Founding, and the Future of American Democracy

Aug 6, 2024

Dr. Tracy McKenzie, a historian and author, delves into the founding fathers' beliefs about human nature and their implications for democracy today. He discusses how misunderstandings of American morality can lead to political instability. The conversation also explores the dangers of assuming inherent human goodness, which can foster authoritarianism. McKenzie critiques the paradox of Jacksonian democracy, examining the tension between popular leaders and the flaws of human nature. Finally, he emphasizes the importance of integrating faith-based values in political discussions.

26:49

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Tracy McKenzie

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Quick takeaways

The founders of America believed that human nature is a mix of greatness and fallibility, necessitating checks and balances in democracy.

Contemporary political dysfunction stems from a misplaced belief in collective goodness, leading to polarization and diminished trust in democratic institutions.

Deep dives

The Founding Fathers' View on Human Nature

The founding fathers of America held a nuanced view of human nature, suggesting that while humans possess the capacity for greatness, they are also inherently prone to selfishness and wrongdoing. This dual perspective informed their understanding of democracy, recognizing the necessity of checks and balances to protect against the abuses of power that could arise from unchecked human ambition. Historical observations, like those made by Alexis de Tocqueville, revealed a disconnect between the self-perception of Americans as fundamentally good and the more sobering reality of human fallibility acknowledged by the framers. This misconception regarding human nature has led to cultural shifts that contribute to contemporary political dysfunction, as the belief in our intrinsic goodness can obscure the need for accountability and temperance in governance.

Intro

2min

The Misinterpretation of American Morality and Its Historical Roots

3min

The Complexity of Human Nature

6min

The Paradox of Jacksonian Democracy

9min

Navigating Political Engagement Through a Faith Lens

5min

The Fall, the Founding, and the Future of American Democracy

What did America’s founders believe about human nature? How might a deeper understanding of their perspective shape the way we think about current and future challenges to our democracy?

On this podcast episode, historian and author Dr. Tracy McKenzie helps us take a closer look at the founder’s view of human nature, what the abandonment of this view implies, and the tension of fallen human beings entrusted with self-governance:

We are storytelling creatures and the stories that we tell one another, the stories that relentlessly we hear in the public square are stories that tell us that liberty and justice and human dignity can all be upheld by leaving our hearts untouched. That's not the message of the gospel. - Tracy McKenzie

This is podcast is an edited version of an online conversation recorded in 2022. Watch the full video of the conversation here, and learn more about Dr. Tracy McKenzie.

We hope this conversation on America’s history helps you see the present with fresh insight as together we consider how Christians and the Church can play a positive role in the public and political life of our country.

Authors and books mentioned in the conversation:

The First Thanksgiving: What the Real Story Tells Us About a Loving God and Learning from History, by Dr. Tracy McKenzie

A Little Book for New Historians: Why and How to Study History, by Dr. Tracy McKenzie

We the Fallen People: the Founders and the Future of American Democracy, by Dr. Tracy McKenzie

Democracy in America, by Alexis de Tocqueville

Related Trinity Forum Readings:

The Federalist Papers

Democracy in America, by Alexis de Tocqueville

Politics, Morality, and Civility, by Vaclav Havel

Children of Light, Children of Darkness, by Reinhold Niebuhr