Text: Garrett Graff, “America Tips Into Fascism” (August 25, 2025)
The United States, just months before its 250th birthday as the world’s leading democracy, has tipped over the edge into authoritarianism and fascism. In the end, faster than I imagined possible, it did happen here. The precise moment when and where in recent weeks America crossed that invisible line from democracy into authoritarianism can and will be debated by future historians, but it’s clear that the line itself has been crossed. I think many Americans wrongly believe there would be one clear unambiguous moment where we go from “democracy” to “authoritarianism.” Instead, this is exactly how it happens — a blurring here, a norm destroyed there, a presidential diktat unchallenged. Then you wake up one morning and our country is different. Today, August 25, 2025, is that morning. Something is materially different in our country this week than last. Garrett Graff August 25, 2025 •
Discussion: Meaning of the Opening Paragraph
Graff’s first paragraph conveys shock and disbelief at the speed with which the United States has slipped from democracy into authoritarianism. It stresses that the erosion of democracy is rarely marked by one dramatic event; instead, it often happens subtly, through the gradual destruction of norms, unchecked power grabs, and blurred boundaries between democratic and authoritarian practices.
Prompt students:
- What emotions, warnings, or historical echoes do you hear in these sentences?
- How might citizens recognize when a democracy is eroding?
- What does Graff mean when he says, “Then you wake up one morning and our country is different”?
Learning Objectives
Students will be able to:
- Identify core signs of democratic erosion and authoritarian tendencies.
- Analyze rhetorical strategies that frame political change.
- Critique historical analogies that compare regimes and transitions.
- Reflect on civic responsibilities in protecting democratic institutions.
Lesson Flow
1. Introduction
- Read and discuss the opening paragraph, unpacking tone, urgency, and implications.
- Have students highlight specific phrases that reveal alarm or resignation.
2. Exploring Definitions & Analogies
- Define democracy and authoritarianism, noting key features and vulnerabilities.
- Brainstorm democratic “guardrails” (free press, rule of law, checks and balances, civil liberties).
- Discuss how these can weaken over time.
3. Media Framing
- Compare how different outlets report on democratic decline.
- Identify language that suggests either crisis or reassurance.
- Discuss how framing affects public trust and civic response.
4. Group Analysis: Text and Video Rhetoric
Students will examine both the written excerpt and Garrett Graff’s interview “America Tips Into Fascism.” In groups, instruct them to:
- Identify emotional appeals (shock, urgency, fear), metaphors (e.g., “roller coaster,” “tipping point”), and juxtapositions (authoritarianism vs. democracy).
- Analyze historical analogies (e.g., Watergate, Putin, Declaration of Independence). Discuss how these comparisons shape perspective and evaluate their accuracy.
- Observe discourse framing: Is the shift described as irreversible, gradual, or open to resistance? How do tone and evidence selection influence perception?
Each group should prepare two key analytical insights drawn from both the text and the video. Encourage them to cite specific phrases or moments to support their findings.
New Essay Questions (for final assessment)
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Graff suggests that democratic backsliding does not occur in one dramatic moment but through incremental erosion. To what extent do you agree with this interpretation? Use historical or contemporary examples to support your argument.
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Compare Graff’s description of America’s shift with at least one historical example of democratic collapse (e.g., Germany in the 1930s, Chile in the 1970s, Hungary in the 2010s). What lessons can be drawn from these parallels, and what limitations exist in making such analogies?
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In times of democratic crisis, what civic responsibilities fall on citizens, educators, journalists, and political leaders? Which of these responsibilities do you believe is most urgent today, and why?
