Democratic Concepts Chart Tracing the roots of the American political process to Athens

Ancient Greece was made up of a lot of different poleis or city-states. While they shared a common language, religion, and culture, each city-state had its own laws and its own government. Use your knowledge of the four basic types of government to complete the missing boxes on your first chart.

What is it called?

Monarchy

Tyrant

Oligarchy

Democracy

Who ruled it?

Government by a single person

How did they get their power?

Usually to power by force Usually noble by birth, but had support of the poor

The power for these rested in a small group of families

Ruled by all its free citizens

How did they keep their power?

Their power died with them

Ruling hand in the power of the people

The road to democracy in ancient Athens was long and full of challenges. Four key figures, however, played an especially important role. Use your knowledge of the four key figures of Athenian government to complete the missing boxes on your second chart.

Who are the key figures?

Draco

Solon

Cleisthenes

Pericles

What contribution did I make on the road to democracy? (You must add at least two contributions to the blank boxes)

I am an Athenian lawmaker who introduced the first written code of law in ancient Greece. I spelled out the consequences of breaking the laws.

How did my contribution change government?

My laws became the foundation of Athenian democracy.

I taught the belief that citizens have a responsibility to vote on all matters.

My contributions gave more power to the people and led to Athens’s Golden Age.

The ancient Athenians played a role in how the United States government was established. Its laws and government served as models for countries in the modern world. For example, the idea of two legislative bodies reflects influence from ancient Greece. Use your knowledge of the role played by Ancient Athens on how the United States government was established to complete the missing boxes on your third chart.

Athenian Government

Athenian Concept

American Democracy

American Democracy Concept

The Archon

Athens set 30 years as the minimum age to be an archon

The President

The United States set 35 years as the minimum age to be president.

The Council of 500

The U. S. Senate has two people to represent each state.

House of Representatives

The Constitution gave Congress the power to determine the size of the House and to divide representation according to state population. States with large populations have more representatives than small states.

The Law and Courts

The U. S. uses judges and juries. The U. S. has 12 jurors per case.

Every citizen had to vote on every issue. Decisions were made based on a consensus from the majority of voters.

Representative/Indirect Democracy

Citizenship limited

Over the years, the laws have been changed to allow citizens who were non-landowners, former slaves, Native Americans, and women to vote. In 1965, the Voting Rights Act was passed to support minorities and remove the literacy requirements for voting.

Focus Question: How important of a role did the ideas from ancient Greek civilizations play in the development of the American political process?