Studied by 7 people
Democracy
citizens hold political power either directly or through representatives
Representative Democracy
citizens rule through elected representatives
Limitations of Athenian Democracy
only 20% of Athenians could become citizens
women, slaves, and foreigners denied citizenship
slaves made democracy work
slaves = 1/3 of population
FREEDOM THROUGH OPPRESSION
Why are there no direct democract’s today?
too big populations
Autocracy
a single person rules with unlimited power
also called dictatorship and despotism
Rule by one
Typically a king
Aristocracy
power is in the hands of a hereditary ruling class or nobility
a form of oligarchy
Rule determined by family ties, social rank, and/or wealth
Oligarchy
a few persons or a small group rule
Rule determined by wealth, ability, and/or control of military
Hammurabi
The greatest king of ancient Babylonia, one of the first rulers to organize and issue a single code of laws for everyone in his empire to observe- The Code of Hammurabi
12 Tables
A collection of Roman laws that officials made in 451 BC (that assured that all citizens had a right to the protection of the law)
Spartans
A military-strong city-state in Ancient Greece
Peloponnesian War
A war Athens fought against Sparta that drags on and ultimately leads to humiliating loss for Athens
Polis
A city-state in Ancient Greece
Cleisthenes
brother-in-law of Peisistratus
banished from Athens
common person rose up in revolution and recalled him from exile to build a government
508 BC introduced reforms
everybody is a member of Assembly
all could vote in assembly
Council of 500 created
Assembly- legislative
Council of 500- executive
Juries- judicial
Pericles
convinced Assembly to pay public officials and juror
had Parthenon built in Athena
Ironically, Athens reaches its greatest heights under his rule, but it also begins to slide toward destruction under his leadership when he starts a war with Sparta
Philosopher
A person who loves and has deep knowledge on wisdom
Socrates
got into trouble for questioning the customs, traditions, and values of Athens
developed Socratic Method- finding knowledge through questions
Loss of sparta and frustration with Socrates caused the Athenenian goverment to put him on trial
Plato
believed average citizen of a democracy were unable to govern wisely
After death of Socrates, he hegins quest to find government that brings out the best in people
Plato’s ideal form of government
roles based on talent (ex: warriors, laborers, leaders)
education is important- people need to be taught to be good citizens
need balance between mob rule and tyranny- didn’t like democracy or autocracy
wisdom + power = philosopher king careful division of labor
one cannot occupy 2 roles at one time
all leaders live communally and receive no pay or property
Philopher King’s reward is a happy people
Aristotle
believed humans are “stateless beasts“ without government
favored democracy over monarchy and aristocracy but thought it was unrealistic
Ideally properly educated middle class should rule
wanted all citizens to be educated and participate in government (unrealistic)
settled on kings taking advice on ruling from philosophers- philosophers offer honest advice because they gain no wealth from their position
in his time, favored a system where the king would rule fairly through the guidance of the philosophers
What is the meaning of the Allegory of the Cave?
Humans’ interpretation of the world are perceived from shadows of the true world rather than reality
“Allegory of the Cave“ vs. The Matrix
Both convey message that reality must be questioned, out interpretation of reality is only through our senses, which may not be true
Moral of both: The unexamined life is not worth living
How did the decision to increase the number of paid officials and jurors affect democracy in Athens?
The decision made it so that officials and jurors did not have to sacrifice their way of making a living in the name of democracy
allowed poorer citizens and more citizens in general to participate in government
Athenian Assembly
Direct democracy in Athenian government in which all Athenian citizens had the obligation to participate in politics
Ostracism
intended to prevent the rise of dictators
reverse elction of politicians (vote out of office)
Greek concept of a citizen
Qualifications: 18+ years old, male, born to an Athenian mom and dad
Capable and rational- believe that all citizens could participate intelligently in affairs of the state
obligation to participate in politics
all citizens expected to participate
met at top of Pnyx roughly 40 times a year
out of 250,000 people living in Athens, there were 30,000-40,000 full citizens, typically 5,000 showed up
How were Athenian government officials chosen?
in part elected, in larger part chosen by lottery (sortition)
How was Greece different from the previous great civilizations?
Made up of 1,500 independent city states
no single ruler
Unlike other previous civilizations, Greece had many mountains
no navigable rivers
generally poor soil
Athens = First democratic society
How did the Athenians get all of the citizens to attend meetings of the Assembly?
slaves carried red-stained ropes and whiped citizens who loitered in the marketplaces. Anyone with red-stained clothes were fined
People who did not attend government assembly (aka private people) were called “idiot“
Direct Democracy
all citizens meet in one place to make laws for their state
Republic
inderect democracy; government based on representation with voters electing the officials who would represent them in the government
Plebeians
Common people
Can’t vote or hold office
Most populous class
*Birth alone determined Roman’s social and political status
Patricians
elite class
dominated Roman politics
Consuls
2 Consuls- kind of like 2 presidents
one year terms
each could veto decisions of the other
after serving term, becomes lifetime member of the Senate
Senate
300 members
Rule alongside consuls
life membership
Roman Assembly
made up of Plebians
elected government officials (ex: Consuls)
voted on laws suggested by government officials
declared war or peace
Dictator
a ruler with total power
Rome transitioned to an empire with emperor after republic died away
Feudalism
a hierarchy
not democratic
Magna Carta
Document that established that the king must obey the law and use only lawful means against his subjects
Edward I (Longshanks and Hammer of the Scots)
1272-1307
expands Great Council’s membership to include commoners
he wanted to gain more votes for money to fight for control of Scotland
he intended to ensure loyalty of wealthy middle class, weaken nobles, and increase his own power, but eventually used to check royal power and further democracy
Great Council
Created by King Henry III
An expanded grou pof lords from the entire kingdom summoned by the king
included major land-owning barons, other nobles, and the archbishops and bishops of the Catholic Church (state religion)
Model Parliament
Created by King Edward I to include commoners in government (ex: peasants, lower classes, nobles)
Divine Right
kings claim they are chosen by God
obedience to king = obedience to God
challenging king = challenging God
King Charles I
1625-1642
Divine Right
Wanted money to pay for wars
Violated Magna Carta, put on trial and forced him to sign Petition of Right
Beheaded from civil war
Petition of Right
1628
Took action after King Charles I violated Magna Carta
The king could not imprison subjects without a specific charge and without provision for jury trial
The king could not levy taxes without Parliamens consent
The king could not house soldiers in private homes without the owners’ consent
English Civil War
Roundheads (loyal to Parliament) vs. Cavaliers (loyal to King Charles I)
King Charles I strongly believed in Divine Right
Parliament wanted to weaken king’s power
Roundheads
loyal to Parliament
Cavaliers
loyal to king (King Charles I)
Oliver Cromwell (Lord Protector)
kind of a dictator
tries to make England become a a republic for a little
strict- no merrymaking
King Charles II
1660-1685
people wanted monarchy again
agreed to limit power
restored to be king
allowed people to merrimake
Habeas Corpus Act took action
Habeas Corpus Act
1679
Citizens cannot be jailed without a reason to be detained/imprisoned
King James II
1685-1688
Believed in Divine Right
Was Catholic in a predominantly Protestant (Anglican) country
Supported to convert England to Catholicism
People thought his son (from 2nd marriage) will carry a Catholic lineage
People asked King’s first daughter and her husband- Mary and William- to overthrow King
Glorious or Bloodless Revolution
1688
Bloodless because all of King James II’s army deserted him so no fighting happened
Established Parliament as ruling power of England
William and Mary step up to throne
must follow a constition that is always above them
Established a constitutional monarchy
William and Mary
These two step up to throne but have limited power under a constitution and Parliament
English Bill of Rights
Freedom to elect members of Parliament without king’s preference
Freedom of speech in Parliament
Freesom to bear arms for self-defense
Freedom from cruel and unusual punishment
Freedom from taxation by decree of king
Freedom of fines and forfeitures without a trial
Freedom to petition to king
Constitutional Monarchy
A system of government in which a country is ruled by a king and queen whose power is limited by a constitution
Thomas Hobbes
Humans are selfish creatures- democracy would never work
All people are equal, equality leads to competition and violence
Favored a strong monarchy because he felt a country needs an authority figure to provide direction and leadership
Reasoned that all people should voluntarily give up their rights to the leviathan (sea monster) who would protect people from one another and ensure peace
Believed in people rationally deciding that a monarchy is the best, not through divine right
Believed appointed representatives can present people’s opinions ot the leviathan who has final decision power
John Locke
Rejected Divine Right
Supported monarchy whose power is limited to ensure that the people’s rights are respected
Believed governments are formed to protect the right to life, freedom, and property
Ideal government power should be divided equally into 3 branches to prevent absolute power
Supported equal rights
opposed slavery
supported equal women rights
Queen Elizabeth I
Society should be structured in a hierarchy
Believed in Divine Right
Wanted more power despite being queen in a limited monarchy
Her power increased so that she only had to ask for obedience, not enforce it
Baron de Montesquieu
Did not believe all were equal
approved of slavery
believed women were weaker than men, they had to obey commands of their husband
Argued for secular morality, not for atheism
Saw only 3 forms of government: monarchy, aristocracy, and republicanism
Opposed absolute monarchy
Believed a limited monarchy would bring a stable and secure country
People’s role is to display political virtue and equality
Wanted small states sot that more people can be in government
wanted the right balance of power between differenc branches
Jean Jacues Roussea
People are born good, independent, and compassionate
Modern society corrupts naturally good individuals
Ideal society is a simple and direct democracy where people make decisions for themselves to preserve freedom
Goverment should exist on the basis of a social contract agreed to by the people
Goverment should be as small and simple as possible and protect people’s rights
People should be educated to be good citizens
Louis XIV
Supported absolute monarchy- supported by the Catholic Church
Believed in Divine Right
Only God had the power and right to punish a bad ruler, revolt of king’s subjects is criminal
Employed middle class merchants and church leaders to run real government affairs- they were more loyal to him
Persecuted non-Catholic Christians
Mary Wollstonecraft
Demanded women participate in government and receive education
Attributed human nature and behavior to environment
Believed women don’t have a chance to prove they are not inferior
Against marriage- believed there was unjust rule of husbands over wives just like there is kings over subjects
