In George Orwell's novel, Animal Farm, the farm animals successfully overthrow humans (the monarchy/dictatorship) to create their own democracy. The first “nation” is a just and equitable democracy. Towards the end of the book, the pigs (who have replaced humans) are corrupt, greedy and the opposite of equals. What happened? Animals have lost their voice in government. Thomas Jefferson's statement that a democratic form of government needs well-educated citizens is well supported by this scenario. To have a successful democracy, educated citizens are needed because they will be able to make wise decisions and participate effectively. Because the power of a democracy ultimately comes from its citizens, they must know how to use their power and make wise, informed decisions. If they are not educated, they probably won't read the news or listen to the radio to talk about politics. The farm animals cannot understand Snowball's big words, much less read or write. The only animal as cultured as the pigs was Benjamin, but he “never exercised his faculties.” (Orwell 50). His knowledge remained unused. Uneducated citizens will not know when new bills will be made or when laws will be passed, so they will not be able to change them if they are not right. They are either too ignorant or not smart enough. Squealer painted amendments to the original Seven Commandments numerous times and the animals noticed the subtle changes, but when he approached to tell the animals that their memory was wrong, the animals never doubted him. Even when the animals caught Squealer painting on the words at midnight, they failed to make the connection between the change in commandments and the event they had just witnessed. Uneducated citizens have no say in policy making or... middle of paper... are made comfortable because they believe all the lies Squealer feeds them. Every time Squealer reads detailed analyzes of the farm, hungry, sick, and cold as they are, “the animals believed every word” (Orwell 115). The gullibility of animals is exploited by pigs. Furthermore, they behave similarly when Napoleon sends Boxer to extermination. As the van was carrying him away, the animals, blind to the words on the side of the van, "...sang in chorus, 'Goodbye!'" (Orwell 123). If the animals had been more intelligent and could read, the pigs would not have gotten away so easily. Even after Benjamin reads to them what the van says, Squealer convinces the animals that "the van was previously owned by the pulper and had been purchased by the vet, who had not yet cleared the old name." Orwell125).Works CitedAnimal Farm, George Orwell