Download Government - The Lesson Locker

Ancient Greece
Government
Early Forms of Government
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Fiercely independent city-states
City-states were called POLIS
Citizens were males who were:
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Adult
Born in the state
Joined army during wartime
Excluded Women, children, foreigners, slaves.
Kings ruled polis
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Some were hereditary
Some were elected
None were considered gods
The Rise of Democracy in Athens
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Four men helped bring about the transition
from monarchy to democracy:
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Draco
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Codified the laws to apply them to all citizens
This offered common people more protections
This led to universal legal rights.
Solon
Pisistratus
Cleisthenes
The Rise of Democracy in Athens
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Draco
Solon
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He cancelled the debts of farmers
He freed farmers forced into slavery
All wealthy men were eligible for public office
He set up a council to provide legislation for
citizens to vote on.
Pisistratus
Cleisthenes
The Rise of Democracy in Athens
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Draco
Solon
Pisistratus
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Took land from wealthy landowners to give to the
landless
He created positions for 30 judges to preside over
causes
Cleisthenes
The Rise of Democracy in Athens
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Draco
Solon
Pisistratus
Cleisthenes
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Created a system to allow for fairer representation
All citizens were given membership to the
Assembly (passed laws, served as supreme court,
and elected generals of armed forces)
The assembly could vote into exile any men
considered a threat to democracy (for 10 years).
Democracy:
What does it Mean Today?
WHAT TYPE
OF GOVERNMENT?
WHAT ARE THE
CONSEQUENCES
WHO VOTES?
OF BREAKING
THE LAW?
DEMOCRACY
WHO
DECIDES
OUR LAWS?
HOW DO YOU
GET RID OF
A LEADER?
DEMOCRACY:
Government by the People
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Class Activity: How Democracy worked in
Ancient Greece.
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50% removed – slaves (15)
20% removed – non-Greek (6)
No girls can vote
Vote: one of you is the leader!
Athenian Direct Democracy
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Read the purple section on page 156 and
answer the following questions:
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Was the Athenian system of government truly
democratic?
Was it an efficient system of decision-making?
Sparta: undemocratic
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Compare the three types of government:
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Monarchy
Oligarchy
Democracy
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Use a VENN DIAGRAM
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The Courts
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The Jury system originated with the Ancient
Greeks
Greek juries varied in size from 201 to 1501!
6000 Athenians were chosen among the
population every year to be a juror.
Jurors were given a small fee for their
services.
The Courts
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An accuser started the process by giving the
defendant a “summons” in front of a witness.
Both appeared before a judge and evidence
was recorded.
A trial was then held in front of a jury.
Jurors could heckle (stamp feet, shouting)
There were no lawyers.
The Courts
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Punishment was one of the following:
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Fines
Exile
Loss of Citizenship
Death by hemlock (poison)
Imprisonment was not really an option