Name: KEY
Period:
Date:
World History – Mrs. Schenck
DEMOCRACIES
FQ: How is power, defined, used and transferred in a democracy?
You live in a democracy, as do many people around the world.
If you think about the news today, many more people are asking for democratic
governments: Egypt, Syria, Yemen, China, etc. What does this mean?
What’s a democracy, and how does it compare from ancient Greece to today?
Go to my website and click on the following link:
http://greece.mrdonn.org/athensdemocracy.html
Read “Around 510 BCE, The Ancient Athenians Invented Democracy”.
Then answer the following questions:
1. Describe how “direct” democracy really worked in ancient Athens:
A. Each year, 500 names were drawn from all the citizens of Athens. Those 500
citizens had TO SERVE FOR ONE YEAR AS THE LAW MAKERS OF ANCIENT
ATHENS.
B. All citizens of Athens were required to vote ON ANY NEW LAW that this body of
500 citizens created.
C. WOMEN, CHILDREN, and SLAVES were not allowed to vote.
2.
Define DIRECT DEMOCRACY:
Define REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY:
PEOPLE VOTE FOR
A GOVT. IN WHICH PEOPLE VOTE TO REPRESENTATIVES, THE
MAKE THEIR OWN RULES AND LAWS REPRESENTATIVES MAKE THE
RULES AND LAWS THAT GOVERN
THEMSELVES AND THE PEOPLE
Think about it…What might be an example of a
DIRECT democracy
and
REPRESENTATIVE democracy?
YOUR FAMILY VOTING ON WHICH
MOVIE TO WATCH
STUDENT COUNCIL
Now Click on the link for “Greek Democracy Then and Now (BBC)” at the
bottom of the page. Read “Greek Democracy and Modern Democracy” and
“Athenian Men’s Club”, and then answer the question below.
3. Describe the differences between ancient Greek and present US democracy:
A. SCALE - How was the scale of democracy different in Greek democracy and
American democracy? # of people participating
GREEK
AMERICAN
Smaller population (thousands)
Large population (over 300 million)
B. PARTICIPATION - How was participation in democracy different in Greek
democracy and American democracy? HOW people participate
GREEK
AMERICAN
Direct democracy – each person voted
on every law/decision
Representative democracy – we elect
REPRESENTATIVES to make
government decisions for us
C. ELIGIBILITY - Who was eligible to participate in Greek democracy verses
American democracy? WHO was ALLOWED to participate
GREEK
AMERICAN
Wealthy, free,
men over the age of 30
Any citizen over the age of 18
Go to my website and click on the following link:
http://www.carlos.emory.edu/ODYSSEY/GREECE/home.html
Read “Greek Democracy: Transforming Government” by scrolling though the
box. As you read, answer the following questions:
4. Fill in the blanks:
KRATOS (_RULE OR AUTHORITY_) + DEMOS (_THE PEOPLE_) =
DEMOCRACY (__THE RULE OF THE PEOPLE___)
5. When did Athens establish the first “direct” democracy?__5TH CENTURY B.C.E.___
Now click on “We the People” at the end of the article.
Read “We the people…” and answer the following questions:
6. When was the United States democracy founded?__1776____
7. How is our democracy different from the “direct” democracy of ancient Greece?
WE HAVE A “REPRESENTATIVE” DEMOCRACY, WHERE CITIZENS ELECT
REPRESENTATIVES TO ACT IN THEIR INTEREST. IN GREECE THEY HAD A
DIRECT DEMOCRACY, WHERE EACH PERSON PARTICIPATED DIRECTLY IN
GOVERNMENT.
8. Give data to support why a direct democracy would not work in the US as it did in
ancient Greece.
IN ATHENS THERE WERE ABOUT 30,000 VOTERS, OF WHICH 5,000 MIGHT
SHOW UP TO VOTE. HOWEVER THE US AS OVER 142 MILLION REGISTERED
VOTERS, SO IT WOULD TAKE TO LONG FOR ALL OF THEM TO PARTICIPATE IN
GOVERNMENT DIRECTLY.
9. Read the article “Protests in Hong Kong” and answer the following questions:
- Why is China opposed to Hong Kong having democratic elections?
They don’t want people to be able to choose their own leaders and have
freedoms since they are a communist government with strict control over
the people.
-
What are citizens of Hong Kong doing to show they are upset with the
Communist government of China?
Protesting and using social media to express that they are upset and gain
support.
10. Read “Privileges of Democracy” and answer the following questions:
-
Which freedom do the people of Hong Kong want the most, and why would
China find this dangerous?
Popular sovereignty - The Chinese think it is dangerous for people to elect
their own leaders because then the people could elect leaders who have ideas
and make laws different from what the Communist Party wants and they will
lose control.
-
Which freedom do you feel is most important to the success of a democracy
and why?
…..
-
What are some ways you can participate in democracy even though you can’t
vote yet?
advocacy through word or mouth or social media,
being educated on issues to share with others who can vote,
petitioning and fighting for causes to ensure all the privileges of democracy,
etc.
How was the distribution of power in Athens similar/different to OTHER ANCIENCT CIVILIZATIONS
we have looked at?
Similar: men had the most power
Different: Athens allowed government participation for some, other civilizations were monarchies (no one got
to participate in govt or have power)
How was the distribution of power in Athens similar/different to the US TODAY?
Similar: only adult citizens can vote, women/slaves/children have fewer rights and power, allow participation
in government (democracy)
Different: women can now vote in the US, voting ages for adults is different in each place
READINGS – These are from the websites above if you would rather read them this
way than on the computer.
What was Democracy like over 2400 years ago in ancient Athens?
A form of direct democracy in ancient Greece was practiced in ancient city-state of
Athens for about 100 years. It was an experiment. The people really liked it. How it
worked is that all adult citizens had to take an active part in government (rule by many) if
called on to do so. At this time, citizens were free men. Women, children, and slaves were
not citizens, and thus could not participate or vote.
Each year, there was a drawing. Five hundred (500) names were drawn from a pool of all
the citizens of ancient Athens. Those 500 citizens had to serve for one year. During that
year, they were responsible for making new laws and for changing old laws as they saw fit.
But, nothing they did became law until all the citizens of Athens had a chance to vote yes
or no. To vote, citizens had to attend the assembly on the day the vote was taken. The
date was posted. It was not a secret, but you had to be present to vote. Majority ruled.
This form of government is called a direct democracy. The famous Athenian, Pericles,
said: "It is true that we (Athenians) are called a democracy, for the administration is in
the hands of the many and not the few, with equal justice to all alike in their private
disputes."
This form of government came to an end in ancient Athens after Athens lost a war with
Sparta. This was the Peloponnesian War. For a while, Athens was ruled by a small group of
Spartans.
For about 100 years, Athens had a direct democracy, or a government in which all
citizens vote on rules and laws. We owe them a lot! It is one of their finest gifts!
A representative democracy, like the government of the United States, is a government
whose citizens vote for representatives. These representatives create and change the
laws that govern the people.
Greek democracy and modern democracy
The architects of the first democracies of the modern era, post-revolutionary France
and the United States, claimed a line of descent from classical Greek demokratia 'government of the people by the people for the people', as Abraham Lincoln put it. But
at this point it is crucial that we keep in mind the differences between our and the
Greeks' systems of democracy - three key differences in particular: of scale, of
participation and of eligibility.
First, scale. There were no proper population censuses in ancient Athens, but the most
educated modern guess puts the total population of fifth-century Athens, including its
home territory of Attica, at around 250,000 - men, women and children, free and unfree,
enfranchised and disenfranchised. Of those 250,000 some 30,000 on average were fully
paid-up citizens - the adult males of Athenian birth and full status. Of those 30,000
perhaps 5,000 might regularly attend one or more meetings of the popular Assembly, of
which there were at least 40 a year in Aristotle's day. 6,000 citizens were selected to
fill the annual panel of potential jurymen who would staff the popular jury courts (a
typical size of jury was 501), as for the trial of Socrates.
An Athenian men's club
The second key difference is the level of participation. Our democracy is representative
- we choose politicians to rule for us. Athenian democracy was direct and in-your-face. To
make it as participatory as possible, most officials and all jurymen were selected by lot.
This was thought to be the democratic way, since election favoured the rich, famous and
powerful over the ordinary citizen. From the mid fifth century, office holders, jurymen,
members of the city's main administrative Council of 500, and even Assembly attenders
were paid a small sum from public funds to compensate them for time spent on political
service away from field or workshop.
The third key difference is eligibility. Only adult male citizens need apply for the
privileges and duties of democratic government, and a birth criterion of double descent from an Athenian mother as well as father - was strictly insisted upon. Women, even
Athenian women, were totally excluded - this was a men's club. Foreigners, especially
unfree slave foreigners, were excluded formally and rigorously. The citizen body was a
closed political elite.
Must use website – can’t copy and paste http://www.carlos.emory.edu/ODYSSEY/GREECE/home.html
Protests in Hong Kong
Citizens of China’s most independent city protest against the central government
OCT 01, 2014 | By Cameron Keady with TIME and AP Reporting
XAUME OLLEROS—AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Protesters gather in the central business district of Hong Kong on
October 1, 2014.
For the past week, pro-democracy protesters have
filled the streets of Hong Kong, China. Their goal is “to
have true democracy in Hong Kong,” said one
protester. October 1 is China’s annual National Day.
This year marks 65 years since the founding of the People’s Republic of China. With city residents off
work for the holiday, the protest has grown to its largest numbers yet.
A Complicated History
After ruling Hong Kong for 156 years, Britain returned control of the former colony to China in 1997.
Since then, the city has been run according to a “one country, two systems” principle. This means that it
enjoys more freedom and democracy than the rest of the Communist country.
As part of this policy, Hong Kong’s citizens were promised that they would be allowed to democratically
elect a leader in 2017. But Beijing, the Chinese capital, has rejected open nominations for the
upcoming election. The central government sees Hong Kong’s independence as a threat to the
country’s power. It wants to stop Hong Kong from moving forward with this policy. Some citizens are
unhappy to have this promised right denied, and have begun marches and demonstrations in protest.
They are also calling for Hong Kong’s unpopular leader to resign, or give up his position.
The Future of Hong Kong
The protest is made up of mostly young Hong Kong residents. Some college students have boycotted
class, and others have gained support from fellow Hong Kong residents and political activists.
The movement began peacefully, but tensions have increased. Within the first few days police arrested
dozens of protesters for offenses including assault and disorderly conduct. At least 83 people have
been injured since the protest began, including police officers and government staff and guards,
authorities said.
As other regions of China celebrate National Day, tensions in Hong Kong remain high. “In China,
people think Hong Kong belongs to China. But people in Hong Kong think that Hong Kong is part of
China, but belongs to the world,” Julian Lam, a 20-year-old student, tells TIME.
Late on September 30, a downpour of rain fell on Hong Kong. The crowds chanted, “We will stay here
until the end despite the weather!”
Privileges of Democracy
The rights and responsibilities that make up a democratic system are not unlimited, of course.
Some restrictions are necessary. There are limits of fair play, of common sense, of safety.
While people in a democracy are free, they may not injure the health or the good name of
others. Recognizing these necessary limits, let us examine the substance of democracy.
Freedom of Speech and the Press
This means that all citizens have the right to speak their minds without fear of punishment. A
person who cannot speak freely cannot think freely. The term "freedom of speech" includes
freedom of expression in forms of communication such as television, radio, and films. It
extends to the arts—theater, dance, music, literature, painting. The right of free speech, press,
and thought includes the right to publish and read newspapers, magazines, and books. It
includes the right to disagree, to take a different view from the popular, accepted one. In a
democracy a citizen may express an opinion even though it is contrary to the opinion of others.
Freedom of Assembly
Citizens in a democracy may join in a meeting or convention to support their government or to
criticize it, to debate foreign policy, to start a new political party, or to reshape an old one. They
may discuss controversial issues that are important to them. They may argue, pass
resolutions, or send petitions to the mayor, the governor, or even to the president.
Popular Sovereignty
This is the heart of democracy. It means that the people are supreme—not a king, not a
leader, not a clique of despots, but the people. Popular sovereignty gives to the voters the right
to keep their officials in office or to vote them out. Balloting is free, and it is secret. The privacy
of every voter is assured. Officials in a democracy are responsible to the people. When the
officials' terms are over, they must go before the people for re-election. They have no
hereditary rights in their jobs. They may not hold office by force or fraud.
Political Freedom
Citizens in a democracy may belong to the party of their choice. This may be a major party—
Democratic or Republican in the United States—or a minor party. The minor parties may
propose ideas that are unpopular or even freakish. But citizens are free to vote for them just
the same. Often a major party supports an idea that was first suggested years earlier by a
minor party.
Civil Rights
These include the right to vote, to hold office, to have a fair trial, to enjoy the privileges of full
citizenship.
Religious Freedom
The Constitution of the United States prohibits government support to any religion or
interference with anybody's religious beliefs. People may not be barred from holding office
because of their religion or lack of religion. Some democracies—England, for example—
support a state church. But religious freedom is guaranteed to all.
Freedom of Movement
All citizens in the United States may choose the city or state where they want to live. They are
free to move about the country if they wish. They need neither permission nor passport.
Economic Opportunity
In a democracy, people may go into business for themselves. If they prosper, they enjoy the
rewards that go with success. If they fail, they may try again or change their work. The
decisions, the risks, and the rewards are their own. Workers may join unions. They may strike
without losing their rights as citizens. In a democracy, people may seek work in any profession,
craft, or industry, without regard for race, creed, or sex. People may work in private industry or
become civil servants. The choice of occupation is theirs—based on their own abilities.
Education
A democracy provides equal educational opportunities for all of its citizens, without regard for
race, creed, color, or social position.