CHV2O

Roots of Democracy

Ancient Athens

·  Birthplace of democracy

·  Between ______and ______BCE, the people who lived in some Greek cities gradually won the right to share in the decision making process

·  A system of direct democracy took root in Athens around 450BC

·  All citizens (free male adults born in Athens) were expected to actively participate in the city’s affairs

The Roots of Democracy

·  As villages, cities and towns grew in size, many civic conflicts (disagreements) arose

·  People argued over land, property, money, trading, and disturbing the public peace

·  In order to ensure orderly conduct in society, ______were created

·  Example: the first waste disposal law came into effect in Athens in 320BC as it became illegal to toss waste on the streets

Ancient Rome

·  Major changes were also occurring in Rome around 500BCE

·  The king was driven out of the city by the ______(people from rich families) who wanted more control in their own government

·  The ______(ordinary people) still felt neglected and persecuted under the patricians

·  In 494BC, they staged a general strike and left Rome

·  The patricians desperately needed the plebeians so they gave in to their demands

·  The plebeians gradually captured more rights, and more influence in their own city’s government

·  Most of the real decision-making power still rested with the patricians in the ______

The Birth of Modern Democracy

·  In the 13th century, England was an absolute monarchy where the king ruled by “______”

·  In 1215, the nobles forced King John to sign a document placing ______on his power

·  This historic document is known as the ______- the Great Charter

The Magna Carta

·  Limited the king’s ______and forced him to respect certain ______of his subjects

·  Some of the 63 clauses of the Magna Carta include:

§  No unlawful imprisonment

§  No forcing widows to remarry

§  No confiscating the horses or carts of free men

§  No stealing another person’s firewood

§  No forcing villagers to build bridges over rivers

·  At a time when the king, and most of his subjects, believed his power to be God-given, these were extraordinary concessions

The Iroquois Confederacy

·  a shared government among a group of five ______

·  Occurred anywhere between 1100-1600

·  3 levels of government with elected representatives from the six nations

·  Each level took care of different matters, such as ______affecting the tribes

·  They wrote a ______to stipulate the rules of the confederacy

The Elements of Democracy

1.  ______

·  Everyone must adhere to the same laws (including leaders)

·  Laws should be known, predictable and impartial

·  The government is subject to law

2.  ______

·  Democratic citizens should protect and uphold the dignity of all people

3.  ______

·  Every citizen has the right to vote, run for office and speak on public issues

4.  ______

·  People can speak freely, form associations and vote without being intimidated

5.  ______

·  Democratic citizens work towards the common good (what will make the most people safe, secure and happy

·  They should have a sense of caring and responsibility for others

6.  ______

·  Democratic citizens should communicate openly and participate individually and collectively in issues that shape their community, nation and world

7.  ______

·  People enjoy many personal freedoms such as freedom of religion and freedom of expression

8.  ______

·  Democratic citizens should respect the rights of others