When in modern history (since 1789) did "democracy" become important?

Question

The French Revolutionary mantra was "liberté, égalité, fraternité". There was no mention of "democracy". The word does not appear in Edmund Burke's *Speech to the Electors of Bristol* (1774). The US Declaration of Independence does not contain the word, and nor does the word appear in Thomas Paine's *Common Sense*, published 1776. The leading thought in late eighteenth-century political argument was the notion of "representative government".So when in modern times did the ancient and Greek idea of "democracy" come about, and why has it taken centre-stage today? **Edit** 25/2/18The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) history of the word ***democracy*** shows that prior to *circa* the mid 1820s the word *democracy* carried very negative connotations. From the mid 1830s it is used far more positively. The US "Democratic Party" under Andrew Jackson was founded in 1828.> 1703 J. Browne Surgeons Assistant i. iv. 38 We shall many times> see the well governed State of Monarchy overcharged and surfeited with> the poyson of Aristocracy, or Democracy. 1792 H. L. Piozzi Diary 20> Aug. in Thraliana (1942) II. 45 I am much of the same mind, if the> Bulk of France really delights in Anarchical Democracy. 1796 Eng.> Rev. Aug. 146 When men smart under despotic rule, they praise the> justice and equality that are at least held forth as the principles of> democracy. 1821 Byron Jrnl. 1 May in Lett. & Jrnls. (1978) VIII. 107> It is still more difficult to say which form of Government is the> worst—all are so bad.—As for democracy it is the worst of the> whole—for what is (in fact) democracy? an Aristocracy of Blackguards.> 1836 T. P. Thompson Let. 22 Oct. in Lett. to Constituents 130 > Democracy means the community's governing through its representatives> for its own benefit.**So what brought about the change in the understanding of the word "democracy"?**

Answer 1

Democracy in Colonial America was considered a very bad thing, mobs acting with no restraint and little knowledge and wisdom. Whom you would call a supporter of Democracy would have described himself as a "Republican" or maybe a "Whig" --- later the term replaced Republican and didn't have the bad connotations it started with.

You can somewhat see the development in this: What did Democratic-Republicans believe?

The Democratic-Republicans comprised diverse elements that emphasized local and humanitarian concerns, states' rights, agrarian interests, and democratic procedures. During Jackson's presidency (1829–37) they dropped the Republican label and called themselves simply Democrats or Jacksonian Democrats.