Download Democracy

Name:_______________________
Ancient Greece: Government
Greece is considered the “Birthplace of Democracy.” The word Democracy
comes from the Greek words meaning “Rule of the People.” This means that this
was a type of government where the people ruled themselves. But before the ideas
of Democracy took hold, the Greek city-states were ruled by kings. This Monarchy
was a system of government where kings rule over a group of people. The kings
were usually the heads of the most powerful families and would pass on their
power to their eldest sons.
However, during the Dark Ages wealthy nobles began helping the kings
defend the city-states against invaders. This made the nobles begin to demand and
share power with the kings. This share of a power led to a new system where a few
people ruled over the larger group or an Oligarchy. Because the Athenians were
not pleased with rule of the nobles they wanted a new government. Peisistratus
over threw the oligarchy and became a tyrant. Tyranny meant a harsh rule from a
leader who ruled by force.
The development of Democracy in Athens occurred around 510 B.C., when
the Athenians became upset with the harsh rule of the tyrant, Hippias. With the
help of soldiers from the city-state of Sparta, Hippias was overthrown. This
allowed power and decision making to be shared among all citizens. This system
of government is where power and decision making are shared among the citizens
and is called a Democracy.
Under Cleisthenes, all citizens in Athens had the right to participate in the
assemblies that created the city laws. The people gathered outside on a hillside so
that everyone could attend a meeting. Voting was usually done by a show of hands,
but sometimes the Athenians used secret ballots. Because these assemblies got so
large, the Athenians selected citizens to be city officials and to serve in a smaller
council to help the government run more smoothly.
As these changes were made the citizens of Athens gained more power. The
citizens served on juries and decided court cases. In court, any citizen could bring
charges against another. Both the accuser and the accused spoke for themselves.
The jury voted using circular tokens. A token with a hollow center meant guilty. A
token with a solid center meant innocent.
This form of democracy lasted for 170 years. Citizens were being paid for
work in the government and were encouraged to spread the ideals of democracy to
other parts of Greece. However, the age of democracy in Greece ended with
Macedonia conquering Athens. The assembly still met to make laws but the
democratic government was very limited. Before long, the Athenians lost even this
limited democracy, when in 1320; a new king took over Greece and ended the
Athenian democracy forever.
Name:_______________________
Ancient Democracy differs from a Modern Democracy, despite that both
Athens and America both had or have a democratic government. All citizens in
Athens could participate directly in the government; this is considered a Direct
Democracy. In this form of government each persons vote counted and majority
ruled. The United States, however, is too large for direct democracy. Instead, the
founders of the United States developed a Representative Democracy, or a
republic. In this system the citizens elect officials to represent them in the
government. Americans do not vote on every law that Congress passes. This is left
to the officials that Americans elected.
1. First Greeks were first ruled by a __________________________________
Which led to rule by nobles or an __________________________________
Because the Athenians did not like the rule of the nobles Peisistratus overthrew
the oligarchy and became a ______________________________ This did not
make the Athenians happy so with the help of soldiers, they changed the power
to the people which is called a _____________________________
2. When the assemblies got too large what did the Athenians do?
3. How did juries vote?
4. How long did Democracy of the Athenians last?
5. How does Ancient Democracy differ from a Modern Democracy?
6. Explain a Representative Democracy.