Final answer:
The foundation of democracy originated in ancient Athens with its direct democratic system, though voting rights were limited. The United States democracy, as a republic, was deeply influenced by ancient, Enlightenment, and philosophical ideas. Democracy's legitimacy is measured by how it serves its population over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
The foundation of democracy is often traced back to ancient civilizations, particularly to the city-state of Athens in the 5th century BCE. Athenian democracy was somewhat limited and direct, in the sense that citizens could vote directly on laws and government matters. However, it's important to note that not everyone could participate; only an estimated 15% of the population was eligible to vote. This concept of democracy evolved over time, influenced by the Roman Republic, the Age of Enlightenment, the Protestant Reformation, and the colonial experiences under the British Empire. Understanding that democracy must prove its legitimacy by providing better consequences for people over time, as argued by American philosopher Richard Arneson, is crucial.
The United States is a republic, a type of representative democracy, and its system was shaped by the ideas from these ancient civilizations and philosophical movements. The philosophes of the Enlightenment, in particular, had a significant impact on the framers of the United States Constitution, who learned about democracy by studying ancient Greece and other historical sources. The view that 'we, the people' should rule remains at the core of democratic theory. Today, many nations identify as democracies, but the true measure of a democracy is seen in how it meets three main questions about who should rule, and how it serves its people over time.