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There is considerably more info at the site. The article is a bit long, but it and the rest of the series should make for interesting and informative reading - especially for students (be they young or old).

The section excerpted highlights just how out of the norm the U.S. was at its founding. This also helps explain why we have moved so far from our founding principles. Essentially, history teaches that you have to defend against the baser instincts of human nature in order to maintain and preserve a true constitutional republic wherein the tyranny of both government and mob rule are constrained.

Former President John Quincy Adams, who was around when the Declaration was passed, and when the Constitution was framed, cleared up the question about whether the United States is a Democracy or a Republic when he was invited by the NY Historical Society to deliver the 50th Anniversary Address in that City, as follows:

“But this institution was republican, and even democratic. And here not to be misunderstood, I mean by democratic, a government, the administration of which must always be rendered comfortable to that predominating public opinion . . . and by republican I mean a government reposing, not upon the virtues or the powers of any one man - not upon that honor, which Montesquieu lays down as the fundamental principle of monarchy - far less upon that fear which he pronounces the basis of despotism; but upon that virtue which he, a noble of aristocratic peerage, and the subject of an absolute monarch, boldly proclaims as a fundamental principle of republican government. The Constitution of the United States was republican and democratic - but the experience of all former ages had shown that of all human governments, democracy was the most unstable, fluctuating and short-lived; and it was obvious that if virtue - the virtue of the people, was the foundation of republican government, the stability and duration of the government must depend upon the stability and duration of the virtue by which it is sustained.” - John Quincy Adams - "Jubilee" Address, April, 1839

Just because the liberals/progressives have promoted in error the idea that the wise Founders and Framers of our Constitution gave us a "democracy" does not make it the truth. As a matter of fact, they indicated clearly why, as JQA stated above.

Also, Benjamin Franklin left the Hall, he stated to the lady who questioned what kind of government they had formed, "A Republic, Madam, if you can keep it."

Wouldn't it be great if the "Republic-ans" like McCain and other Republicans knew, and could articulate, that idea?

2500 years ago, in Herodotus’ Histories...

“Darius came forward, and spoke as follows:- “All that Megabyzus said against democracy was well said, I think; but about oligarchy he did not speak advisedly; for take these three forms of government - democracy, oligarchy, and monarchy - and let them each be at their best, I maintain that monarchy far surpasses the other two. What government can possibly be better than that of the very best man in the whole state?

The counsels of such a man are like himself, and so he governs the mass of the people to their heart’s content; while at the same time his measures against evil-doers are kept more secret than in other states.

Contrariwise, in oligarchies, where men vie with each other in the service of the commonwealth, fierce enmities are apt to arise between man and man, each wishing to be leader, and to carry his own measures; whence violent quarrels come, which lead to open strife, often ending in bloodshed. Then monarchy is sure to follow; and this too shows how far that rule surpasses all others.

Again, in a democracy, it is impossible but that there will be malpractices: these malpractices, however, do not lead to enmities, but to close friendships, which are formed among those engaged in them, who must hold well together to carry on their villainies. And so things go on until a man stands forth as champion of the commonalty, and puts down the evil-doers. Straightway the author of so great a service is admired by all, and from being admired soon comes to be appointed king; so that here too it is plain that monarchy is the best government.

Lastly, to sum up all in a word, whence, I ask, was it that we got the freedom which we enjoy? - did democracy give it us, or oligarchy, or a monarch? As a single man recovered our freedom for us, my sentence is that we keep to the rule of one. Even apart from this, we ought not to change the laws of our forefathers when they work fairly; for to do so is not well.”

interesting : the Senate is now democratic though it was fromed to be oligarchial; the House is now oligarchial, though it was formed to be democratic.
The division of powers makes it hard for democracy to conquer the whole of our system and then reduce it to tyranny. Though not impossible.