In this extraordinary election year of 2016 we keep hearing a lot of dark references to “populism” on both the left and the right. But what does “populism” mean, and why does it have such a negative connotation? Aren’t we a popular democracy? And isn’t democracy good?

Woody Holton, a University of South Carolina history professor, thinks that democracy is, in fact, a good thing - at least sometimes. He’s even written a book about it: "Unruly Americans and the Origins of the Constitution."

Woody’s story contrasts with the history you probably learned in high school, where George Washington, James Madison and a few other rich guys did all the heavy lifting. As it turns out, they had lots of help.