The document discusses the origins and influences of ancient Greek and Roman governments on the development of American democracy. It provides the following key points: 1) Ancient Greece is credited with creating the world's first democracy, with political power distributed evenly among free adult males. They developed direct democracy where citizens participated directly in government. 2) Rome formed a republic and introduced the idea of representative democracy, though it was still largely ruled by wealthy elites. Key contributions to America's democracy include a bicameral legislature and emphasis on civic virtue. 3) Both Greek and Roman democracies were limited to free adult males initially, though the Greeks placed more emphasis on rational debate while Rome functioned as a de

1. Origins of Principles
UNIT 1.1
Mr. Bravo

2. Objective
 Learning Objective:
 Explain the influences of Ancient Greek and Roman
governments on the development of American
Democracy? (Democracy/Republic)

3. Do Now
 Democracy: rule by the people.
 Republic: political system in which the
supreme power lies in a body of citizens who
elect people to represent them.

4. Greek Influences on Democracy
 Ancient Greece is widely credited with creating the
world’s first democracy.
 Democracy is a Greek word combining the roots for
people (“demos-”) & rule (“-kratia”).
 In Greek democracy, political power was
concentrated not in the hands of one person, or even
a small group of people, but rather evenly and fairly
distributed among all the people*.

*For purposes of Greece, “people” means “free adult males”

5. Greek Influences on Democracy
 Greek philosophers believed that tyrants were self-
serving (looked after their own interests, not the
people they ruled over).
 If government is to bring order under corrupt power
holders, then power must be placed in the hands of
all the people.
 Thus, the Greeks gave us Direct Democracy. They
actively participated in all aspects of government.

6. Greek Influences on Democracy
 The main legislative (law making) body was called
the Assembly and it was comprised of no less than
the first 6,000 citizens to arrive at its meetings.

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Jury duty was an honor, not a burden!
Even membership in civic institutions such as serving in the
Supreme Court was chosen by lot!

Hence, any random (but free) Jesse Katsopolis could potentially be
your top law-making entity.
We’ve got a
FULL HOUSE!

7. Greek Influences on Democracy
 Compared with American democracy, the Athenian
version seems simplistic and naïve (sarcasm).
 Would you believe they placed more emphasis on
eloquence and rationality than on demagogues and
fear-mongering?
 Thankfully (?), this type of humane governance was
eradicated in less than two centuries when Philip of
Macedon invaded (c. 300 BC), sealing the fate of the
noble and enlightened to be forever crushed by the
armed and dumb. (Nerds/Jocks)

8. Times Are A Changin’

9. Summary (Write Down)
 Democracy = “people” & “rule” (demos-/-kratia)
 Replace self-serving tyrants (say the Greek

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philosophers)
Greeks gave us direct democracy, wherein citizens
participated in all aspects of government.
Put power in the hands of the “people” (*)
The Assembly was the governing body.
Characterized by eloquence and rationality.

10. Roman Influence on Democracy
 The fall of the Greeks was followed by the emergence
of Rome.
 Formed a Republic.
 At first glance, its people* appear to have enjoyed a
system of representative government similar to ours
where we elect our leaders.

*For purposes of Rome, “people” means “free adult males with
property” (Do you sense a pattern?)
 But don’t let that representative stuff fool you!

11. Roman Influence on Democracy
 Behind the façade of “representative” lurked a de facto
oligarchy ruled by entrenched plutocrats (people w/ $$$).
 America’s Founding Fathers also borrowed many ideas
from the Roman model including: the bicameral legislature
(2 houses), emphasis on republicanism and civic virtue, and
a Freudian fascination w/ big white columns (architecture).

12. Roman Influence on Democracy
 However, there was actually very little democracy going on
compared to the Greeks.
 While the Senate theoretically represented the people, in
reality, its wealthy members covertly pursued pro-business
legislation.

13. Summary (Write Down)
 After overthrowing a tyrant king, Romans formed a
republic w/ representative democracy.
 Romans gave us a means to have rule by the people
in a more efficient way (public order).
 Contributions: bicameral legislature,
republicanism/civic virtue and architecture.

14. Power (write this down)
 Power corrupts!
 If we did not follow set rules (and did as we pleased) this
would lead to people hurting others in their attempts to
please themselves.
 We give up some power in order to be protected from a
greater power (a trade-off).

Give up something to gain something.

15. Power (write this down) cont…
 Yet when we give up power to the government, we must
also ensure that its power is limited so it will not hurt us in
turn.
 As such, government’s purpose must be to protect us from
the abuse of power by:
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Maintaining social order
Providing public services that promote general welfare
Providing national security
Making economic decisions

16. Exit Ticket
 Watch the following video clips:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5lQA3bipHc
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MeEd8Nl9a4
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpL6Fwu0wkw
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvkuePL7oDY
 What is your definition of power? Write one paragraph.
