To be successful, and not destructive, a populist movement requires a strong core of principles that keeps its goals tethered to constitutional and cultural restoration. It must also have a relatable leader with a strong core of convictions to see the movement through. Effective American populist movements have operated within the framework of the Constitution, and have been powerful forces for restoring liberty and rooting out corruption. Without this context, populism leads to failure and disaster.

Today’s populism is ideologically nebulous and lacks focus. Popular movements can and have issued important course-corrections in American history, but only by allowing their populism to be guided by the wisdom of the Founders’ constitutionalism.

The Founding Fathers included democratic elements in the American system for good reason. The rights of petition, speech, and assembly—the ability of ordinary Americans to participate in civil society and in government—have been the backbone for the adaptability of our civilization, in the way that the constitutional protection of individual rights has been the bulwark of stability and freedom.

When the American public feels powerless, popular movements have captured that sentiment to make course corrections, for good or ill. No true restoration of American culture, government, and institutions can occur without some element of “democracy.” As Jefferson once said, “Independence can be trusted nowhere but with the people in mass.”