Democracy's Champions: Civic Virtue in America

Americans hunger for public heroes, people we can proudly call champions of democracy. Faced as we are with too much political polarization, distrust and a lack of civility in society, we wonder about the future of our democracy. Yet throughout our history remarkable citizens have demonstrated the civic virtue that makes self-government work, that shows why America has been and can still be what Lincoln called "the last best hope of earth."

Democracy's Champions first explains what the founders meant by civic virtue and then defines it for today. It then showcases civic virtue using short vignettes of the contributions of nearly sixty noted Americans spanning our history from the 18th to the 21st century. Some of these champions are well-known, such as Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, Frederick Douglass, Susan B. Anthony, Abraham Lincoln, Thurgood Marshall, Jackie Robinson, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Lyndon B. Johnson and Yo-Yo Ma. But many are not so well-known, such as Melancton Smith, Benjamin Rush, Sarah Winnemucca, Harry Burn, Virginia Hall, Hiram Bingham and young Mattie Stepanek.

Democracy's Champions is organized around seven attributes that define civic virtue today. A chapter, with its 7-9 vignettes, is devoted to each of the following: (1) practice self-discipline, (2) act honorably, (3) respect the Constitution and the rule of law, (4) understand American history and government, (5) demonstrate civility and compassion in public life, (6) participate positively in public affairs, and (7) foster justice.