Download Government in Athens

27 January 2017
EQ –How did Greece go from a monarchy to a democracy?
• Bellringer – Check atlas work from yesterday
• PowerPoint Notes on Government in Athens
• Packet page 5 & 6
• HW : Read Chapter 8.2 – add to study guide
• Study guide due Thursday
Government in Athens
Chapter 8.2
Birthplace of Democracy
• Greece is the birthplace of Democracy, a
type of government in which people rule
themselves
• The word democracy comes form Greek
words meaning “rule of the people”
Rise of the Aristocrats
• In early Greece, kings ruled the city-state.
(Monarchy)
• Later, a group of rich landowners, or
aristocrats took power
• A government in which only a small group
of people have power is called an oligarchy
Rise of the Aristocrats
• With the aristocrats controlling $ and now
the government, the common people had
little say in the government.
• In the 600s BC, a group of rebels tried to
overthrow the aristocrats, but it didn’t
work
Wreck it buy a new one….or…A man
who would carry a Legalist Stick!
• Since the rebellion failed a man named
Draco created a new set of harsh laws for
Athens
• These laws were very harsh. Punishing
minor crimes like loitering punishable by
death.
Draco….out (Oligarchy still in)
• Draco’s laws were believed to be too harsh
so a man named Solon created less harsh
laws.
• Under Solon’s laws, all free men living in
Athens became citizens: people who had
the right to participate in government
Rise of Tyrants
• In 546 a noble named Peisistratus “overthrew”
the oligarchy
• Peisistratus became the leader of Athens and
was called a tyrant.
• A tyrant is, a leader who held power through
the use of force
According to Herodotus, Peisistratus
came by chariot with “Athena” by his
side – declaring he had her blessing
(and protection) to rule Athens.
Tyrant what, tyrant who?
• Today the word tyrant is harsh but in ancient
Greece the word had a very different meaning
• Tyrants in Athenian government were usually good
leaders with strong armies and support from the
people.
• Peisistratus brought peace and prosperity to the city
starting new policies to unify the city, building
temples and monuments.
• Reduced taxes
• Introduced concept of free loans to farmers
• Creates the path for Athens to dominate Greece
Sippin’ Haterade
• After Peisistratus died (c. 527 BC), his son,
Hippias, took over as tyrant – no one was
happy! 
• Continues father’s benevolent rule….for a
while…until c. 514 BC – when brother is killed
• This makes him unhappy & everyone feels his
wrath!
Sippin’ Haterade Cont.
• Aristocrats were unhappy because their power was
gone (@ 510 BCE)
• Aristocrats overthrow Hippias & banish him
• Aristocrats back in control untill…
• ….back to a Tyrrany
• Isagoras (an Aristocrat) convinced a rival city-state
(guess who…)to attack Athens and re-claimed their
power
• Kicks out other Aristocrats (@ 700)
• Including Cleisthenes
• Rules from the acropolis with Spartans!
• Until common people revolt!
Democracy is created
• For the 1st time in history – people revolt against
the government
• Around 510 BC a man named Cleisthenes gained
power in Athens. (called out of exile)
• Despite coming from a rich family he felt that,
aristocrats had too much influence
• With the support of the people he overthrew the
aristocracy and established the world’s first
democracy
Democracy under Cleisthenes
• All citizens had the right to participate in
the assembly, or gathering of citizens that
created the city’s laws.
• The assembly met outdoors on a hillside
so everyone could attend
Democracy Cont.
• During meetings, people stood before the crowd
and gave speeches on political issues. They were
actually encouraged to do so…
• After speeches were over the assembly voted
usually by show of hands, but sometimes secret
ballots (black & white stones)
Voting
• The number of people who voted in
assembly changed day to day
• For major decisions the assembly needed
6,000 people which wasn’t always easy to
get
• Red rope attendance? What do you guess
that is?
Too many People
• What do you think would be a problem
with having a 6,000 person assembly?
• Athenians selected citizens to be city
officials
• These city officials decided which laws
the assembly should discuss
• Some times officials determined by
lottery!
Changes in Athenian
Democracy
• Citizens served on juries to decide court cases
• Juries had anywhere from 200 to 6,000 people
Pericles
• Led the government from 460 BC-429 BC
• To encourage people to participate in
government he started to pay people who
served in public offices or on juries
• He also encouraged the spread of
democracy in Greece
Direct v. Representative
Democracy
Direct v. Representative Democracy
• All citizens in Athens could participate
directly in government
• What this means is a person’s decision
directly affects the outcome of a vote
• The United States is too large for everyone
to gather so we formed another kind of
Democracy
Representative Democracy
• The democracy created by the United States is a
representative democracy, or republic - a
government in which supreme power resides in a
body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by
elected officers and representatives responsible to
them and governing according to law
• “And, surprise, a representative democracy is a kind of republic. What distinguishes a
republic is that it has an elected government. Representative democracies are,
therefore, a kind of republic. Self-appointed governments such as monarchies,
dictatorships, oligarchies, theocracies and juntas are not republics. However, this still
allows for a wide spectrum.”
Representative Democracy
• In this system, citizens select officials to
represent them in government
• Elected officials then meet to make up and
enforce the country’s laws
• Americans elect senators and
representatives to Congress who pass
laws.
• We trust our chosen representatives to
vote for us.