Final answer:
The key tenets of democracy include popular sovereignty, political equality, majority rule, individual rights, and the rule of law. The country underwent significant changes because of the Civil War and Reconstruction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The key tenets of democracy include popular sovereignty, political equality, majority rule, individual rights, and the rule of law.
Popular sovereignty means that the power resides with the people who elect their leaders and make political decisions.
Political equality ensures that every citizen has the same rights and opportunities to participate in the political process. Majority rule means that decisions are made by the majority, with respect for the rights of minorities.
Individual rights protect the fundamental freedoms and liberties of citizens, such as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly. The rule of law ensures that everyone is equal under the law and that laws are fair and impartial.
The country underwent significant changes because of the Civil War and Reconstruction. The Civil War abolished slavery in the United States and brought an end to the institution that had divided the nation.
Reconstruction, which followed the war, aimed to rebuild the South and ensure the rights and citizenship of African Americans.
However, Reconstruction eventually collapsed, and the South implemented laws and practices that limited the rights and freedoms of African Americans, leading to nearly a century of racial inequality.
The Civil War and Reconstruction had a profound impact on race relations and the struggle for civil rights in the United States.