Vocabulary Lesson 3 Presentation
Daksh Desai
FILL IN THE BLANK
The _____________ found that appealing to people's desires hid his hatred for rational ideas, so he raised campaign funds by lowering gas prices.
THE WORD
demagogue (n.)
a leader or agitator who appeals to people's passions and prejudices rather than to their reason
- They exploit a weakness in democracy because they know power lies in the people, and if the demagogues can persuade the people, then they have power.
ITS ROOTS
demos (G.) "people"
- Also comes from the verb "ago" meaning carry/manipulate, thus meaning "people's manipulator"
DEMAGOGUES IN HISTORY
ALCIBIADES
Convinced the people of Athens he would conquer Sicily. He was elected as president and commander, but there were disastrous results in attempting to conquer Sicily.
GAIUS FLAMINIUS NEPOS
In the Battle of Lake Trasimene, he appealed to the Romans's value of defense to get them to go to battle. He lost 15,000 Romans lives, including his in the battle.
JOSEPH MCCARTHY
Rose to national prominence in the 1950s by pointing out that high positions in the U.S government and military were full of communists, leading to the second Red Scare. His inability to find proof for his claim led him to be censured by the U.S, and he fell from popularity.
SYNONYMS
- rabble-rouser
- agitator
- firebrand
- fanatic
- rebel
ANTONYMS
- appeaser
- Not many antonyms but it could be anyone who does not exploit the power of the people
- One who focuses more on their reason, not passions and prejudices
CHOOSE THE LETTER OF THE SENTENCE IN WHICH THE WORD IN BOLD-FACED TYPE IS USED INCORRECTLY.
a) The demagogue's emotional speech made citizens donate millions of dollars for the hungry.
b) Once you are in office, you do not want to be considered a demagogue who does not believe in rational ideas.
c) The demagogue child made all the kids at the playground follow him.
d) Only a demagogue could persuade so many people to rebel against authority.