Greek Influence on American Government

Topic 4, Lesson 1: Ancient Influences on American Government

Directions: Record the Main Takeaways in your notes and any other information you consider vital. Be prepared to respond to prompts and multiple choice question throughout lesson. Rewards will be given.

​Lesson Essential Questions

What concepts about democracy developed in Ancient Athens?
How were the Founders influenced by the structure of government in Ancient Rome?
What was the impact of Judeo-Christian tradition on democratic values?

Why is it important to listen to different ideas and viewpoints?

Unit Essential Question

Essential Questions

Key Vocabulary

• constitution

• direct democracy

• republic

• separation of powers

• ​civic virtue

• rule of law

• ethics

Ancient Greece

• Describe the geography and set up of ancient Greece.

• What is a "polis"?

• What is the Greek polis of Athens often referred to as?

What did early Athenian rulers create that set up their government?

What happened during the 500s BCE in Athens? Who was allowed to participate in this new type of government?

Why did other Greek city-states reject the idea of democracy?

What type of democracy did Ancient Athens have? How was it different than what we have in the US today?

What examples of direct democracy exist in the US today?

What is civic participation and what are ways we know that it was stressed in Ancient Athens?

Describe the structure and role of Athenian Juries.

Discuss how Athenian democracy was flawed.

​Ancient Athens and Direct Democracy

​Main Takeaways

• Ancient Greece was very mountainous; thus, city-states or polis were very independent and established their own form of governments. In the polis of Athens a direct democracy was the government of choice (People vote directly on laws). Athens is often referred to as the "birthplace of democracy".

• Athenian rulers created constitutions to set up their government. All native born, free, male citizens could and were required to practice civic participation. Agora's were centers of this participation. Trial by Jury was a huge component of Athenian democracy.

• Athenian democracy along with trial by Jury and a written constitution had a great impact on our founders. Direct democracy is still seen at some lower levels of government.

Multiple Choice

   Athens, an ancient Greek _______, or city-state, is best known as the birthplace of democracy.

• Polling Place
• Acropolis
• Polis
• Oligarchy

Multiple Choice

When Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, which democratic principle of the Ancient Greeks influenced him the most?

• Term limits preventing anyone from staying in power too long

• People have the fundamental right to rule themselves

• Civic Participation is an important duty

• That only the "best and brightest" should serve in government

Multiple Choice

• The statement below was made in a speech by Pericles, the leader of Athens around 430 B.C.

• Our government does not copy the laws of our neighbors. Instead, it serves as an example to them. We are called a democracy because our government is in the hands of the many and not the few…

  Pericles, the leader of ancient Athens, 430 B.C.

• How did the example mentioned in this speech influence the founders of the American constitutional republic, 2500 years later?

• • They designed a system of checks and balances.

• • They gave political power to an all-powerful ruler.

• • They created a government of elected representatives.

• • They placed the final power in government in ordinary citizens.

Multiple Choice

Which ancient city-state is known as the birthplace of democracy?

• Athens

• Rome

• Sparta

• Troy

Multiple Choice

What is the meaning of the word 'democracy'?

• People rule themselves

• One person rules

• The elite rule

• Foreign/domestic policy

Multiple Choice

Which of the following elements of Athenian democracy can be recognized in the modern U.S. government?

• Written laws and constitution

• Legal system and courts

• Civic participation

• All of the above

Multiple Choice

What do modern Americans believe, similar to ancient Athenians?

• People have a fundamental right to rule themselves

• All legal citizens deserve the right to vote

• People have the right to a trial decided by a jury of their peers

• All of the above

What occurred in ancient Rome in 509 BCE?

Despite drawing inspiration from Athens' democracy, the Roman form of government was different. How?

What ideal did the Romans rely on to prevent a king from rising to power?

What was the dark side of both the Athens and Roman Legacies?

How is the US model of government more similar to ancient Rome then ancient Athens?

Discuss the idea of civic virtue.

How was the Roman Republic based on the idea of Rule of Law? What was their law code known as?

​

​The Roman Republic - A Model for our Government

Judeo-Christian Values

• Discuss how the democratic values of law and justice as well as individual worth and personal responsibility were evident in Judaism and Christianity.

​Main Takeaways

• Ancient Rome relied on a Republic where citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf. (The US is a Constitutional Republic)

• The ideal of separation of powers was seen in ancient Rome. The Consuls, Senate (wealthy), and assemblies (ordinary citizens) shared power and checked each other (checks and balances). Like in Ancient Athens, participation in government was limited.

• Civic virtue (promote the common good) and Rule of Law (the 12 tables) was stressed in ancient Rome.

• Judeo-Christian values like law, justice, individual worth, and personal responsibility greatly influenced our founders. The Roman Republic (a republic, separation of powers, civic virtue, and rule of law) greatly impacted the creation of the United States.

Multiple Choice

Which is an influence both Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome had on the American

government?

• a polis

• civic participation

• a written constitution

• separation of powers

Multiple Choice

The principle of _______ meant that all of Rome’s citizens would be treated equally.

•   representative democracy

• checks and balances

•      rule of law

•      civic participation

Multiple Choice

  The principle of separation of powers _______ government power in ancient Rome.

•   divided

• combined

• weakened

•   strengthened

Multiple Choice

   The modern U.S. Constitution created a(n) _____, in contrast to the government of ancient Athens.

•       monarchy

•    oligarchy

•      republic

• direct democracy

Multiple Choice

The diagram below shows the impact of an important tradition.

Which of the following phrases BEST completes the diagram above?

• Voting rights

• Separation of Powers

• 1. Ethical ideas of justice

• Representative government

Multiple Choice

BIG IDEA

Judaism and Christianity taught what?

• how to make a torta?

• democratic rights

• individual worth, ethical values, and the need to fight injustice.

• you are like a star