Democracy and the Republic

1
Democracy and the Republic

• Otherwise known as
• What do the those ancient Greeks and Romans have
  to do with me?
  

2
Please stand and recite

• The Pledge of Allegiance

3
What does it really mean?

• I pledge Allegiance to the
• Flag of the United States of America
• And to the Republic, for which I stand
• One nation, under God, indivisible
• With liberty and justice for all.

4
What difference does it make if I pledge?

• Who runs our country?
• Who makes our laws?
• What does it mean to be a citizen?
• What rights do you have?
• Why should you care?
• Would it make a difference if you didnt
  participate?

5
Democracy and Republics

• Democracy
• Greek for rule by the people
• A political system in which all citizens had a
  say in the government of their state.
  
• Republic
• Latin (from Ancient Rome) for Respublica for
  the people
  
• A country without a king or queen, whose rulers
  are elected by the people.

6
Periods of History

• 2900BC 1000 BC The Bronze Age
• (When Hammurabi reigned in the Babylonian
  Empire)
  
• 1100 800 BC The Dark Ages
• 800 500 BC The Archaic Period
• 605 BC First Tyrants seize power in Greece
• 510 BC A Republic is formed in Rome
• 508 BC A Democracy is created in Athens, Greece
• 500 -336 BC The Classical Period
• 336-30 BC The Hellenistic Period

7
Ancient Greece

• Created the first Democracy in 508 B.C.
• Citizens could vote in their own city-states
  (known as a Polis) to help determine common laws
  
• Citizens aristocrats (from aristoi, meaning
  the best people) rich landowners, free men born
  in that city-state.

8
Its all Greek to me

• Wait a minuteso, who were citizens?
• Citizen A free man who had the right to
  participate in the government of his city-state
  or polis
  
• Okay, who was not free?
• Slaves were often captured in battle or born
  into slavery. This included women, children, and
  adult men. You had no choices your master
  decided your fate.
• Were there others who werent considered
  citizens?
  
• Metics out-of-towners who were born elsewhere,
  mostly men, were free but they couldnt ever vote
  no matter how much they contributed to the
  society.
• Hmmdo we have people like that in the United
  States today?
  
• Fine, so then how about free women?
• Hubby had all the say if you were marriedDad did
  too. Some dudes just left you outside the city
  gates abandoned as a babytough luck, huh? You
  were property.

9
Ancient Rome

• The Birth of the Republic
• Romans drove out the last King of Rome, Tarquin,
  in 510 BC and became an independent Republic
  
• Senatus Populusque Romanus The Senate and
  People of Rome
  
• SPQR was the symbol for Romes first republic
  and is found on Roman carvings and buildings from
  that time.
  

10
Who were the people of Rome?

• Citizens of Rome

• You were required to
• Vote
• Fight in the army (no deserters)
• Work for the government when needed

• Born there?
• Parents were citizens?
• Male?

Congratulations! You had a say in your governmen
t, extra protection, special rights.

11
Non-citizens of Rome?

• Provincials people who lived outside Rome but
  within Roman territory and slaves.
  

So, what about women in Rome? Any better luck?
Rich women ran their home, supported their
husbands careers, and their childrens education
no votingbut some power. Poor? You worked out
of the home as a midwife or hairdresser, farmer
or clerk.
12
Citizens Patrician or Plebeian?

• Patricians heads of the wealthiest families,
  patres or fathers, leading citizens of Rome.
  
• Plebians didnt own land, had few skills, poor.
• Shopkeepers, craftworkers, bankers or merchants.

13
Who Ruled and Made Laws?

• Senate 300 Patricians (landowners, wealthy,
  bought buildings for the city, paid for citys
  entertainment) They served for life.
  
• Consuls 2 were elected to lead the Senate and
  the Army
  
• Praetors 8 judges of the courts of law
• Plebians
• were included in 450BC with a list of laws called
  the Twelve Tables. (They were allowed to see the
  laws the Senate created and enforced.)
  
• Eventually they also became Senators and Consuls.

14
Everyday laws and rules that affect YOU!

• What laws or rules did you follow today?
• Who made them? Who enforced them?
• Do you have a say in any rulemaking in your life?
  
  
• Create a list 3-5 parts of your daily life you
  think you should have a say in determiningbe
  ready to discuss why

15
What does our pledge really mean?

• I pledge Allegiance to the
• Flag of the United States of America
• And to the Republic, for which I stand
• One nation, under God, indivisible
• With liberty and justice for all.

16
United States

• Who has the power?
• Do we balance it?
• What have we used from the Greeks and Romans?
• How is our democracy different?
• Is it really that important to vote?
• Is it really that important to serve on juries?