Transcript Foundations of Democracy

The Foundations
of Democracy
A. Ancient Greece
B. Ancient Rome
A. Ancient Greece
• The birthplace of
democracy is in
Athens
• Athens used to have
a monarchy
• Then it became an
aristocracy
• Then, when the
citizens governed or
ruled themselves, it
became a democracy
• Democracy developed because of three
Athenian rulers: Solon, Cleisthenes, and
Pericles.
• They allowed citizens to vote and Athens
developed into a direct democracy.
• However, not everyone was considered a
citizen
• They also separated the government into three
branches (legislative, executive, and judicial).
• Democracy ended when Macedonia (country
to the North) invaded Greece in 338 B.C.
• Alexander the Great then ruled Greece
• Philosophers Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle
continued the development of democracy
through their writings
• Natural Laws: laws of nature that explained
how people desired self-rule
• Socrates – 1st great Greek philosopher to voice
his beliefs in democracy.
• Believed in a meritocracy where those with
exceptional ability (really smart) and moral
character should be leaders.
• Plato – wrote The Republic.
• Believed a state should be
ruled by the wisest not the
richest to save the people
from evil.
• They would be called
philosopher-kings.
• Aristotle – wrote
Politics.
• Believed men had a
desire and need to live in
a governed society.
Greece’s Legacy to Democracy –
1. Direct Democracy
2. Three Branches of Government
3. Natural Laws
B. Ancient Rome
• Rome discovered
democracy through
contact (war) with
the Greeks
• Established a Republic in
509 B.C.
• Divided government into
three separate branches
Legislative branch made up of the:
1. Senate which controlled foreign and financial
affairs
2. The two assemblies
• Created the Twelve
Tables
• A written law code
that applied to
EVERYONE.
• Romans believed
citizens had the right
to equal treatment
under the law.
Rome’s Legacy to Democracy
1. Idea of a republic
2. legal and political terms used today
3. A government of laws, not of men