READING CHECK || "Greek Influence on U.S. Democracy"

What caused the founders of the United States to turn the original colonies into separate states?

• They wanted each region to be able to have some form of independent and local government.
• They believed the states would be better able to defend themselves from foreign invaders.
• They wanted each state to have an equal number of citizens and representatives in government.
• They believed the colonial government that had been holding them together was too strong.

Much like the new nation's 13 individual states, Greece was divided in many different "city-states". Which MAJOR Greek "city-states" are mentioned in the article from National Geographic? Please select ALL answers provided in the article.

• Athens
• Sparta
• Thebes
• Carthage
• Mycenae

How does the Greek Rule of Law affect U.S. democracy?

• It helps lay out the different parts and balance of the government.
• It shows that U.S. states are stronger when they band together.
• It helps make sure that the country's laws are the same for everyone.
• It shows that the government must base all of its new ideas on nature.

TRUE? or FALSE?: "According to the Rule of Law; every person and institution, even the government, can be held accountable for their actions."

• TRUE; no person or entity, even the government, is above the Rule of Law.
• FALSE; people and most institutions are NOT above the Rule of Law. However, the government is immune from responsibility for its actions according to the Rule of Law.

What effect did Aristotle have on U.S. democracy?

• Aristotle convinced the founders of the United States to study the government of Greece.
• Aristotle helped create the voting system that would eventually be used in many countries.
• Aristotle's belief in natural law helped create a system where all laws are equally enforced.
• Aristotle's work on writing the first constitution established how people should behave.

In the Greek city-state of Athens, which of these was NOT necessary to be able to vote and serve on councils?

• voters had to be male
• voters had to be over the age of 18
• voters had to have been born in the city-state
• voters had to have served in the Athenian army or navy

Read the section "America's Representative Democracy". Select the sentence that suggests some limitations that characterized Athenian democracy also characterized democracy in the United States.

• The founders of the United States also believed that only certain people should be allowed to vote and elect officials.
• They chose to structure the United States as a representative democracy.
• Instead, a body called the Electoral College officially casts the votes of each state for president.
• The key elements of ancient Greek democracy are still in use today.

The framers chose to create a special political body, called the "Electoral College" to select the President of the United States. Is the "Electoral College" a "direct election" or an "indirect election"?

• The Electoral College is a good example of a "direct election" process in the United States.
• The Electoral College is an example of an "indirect election" designed by the framers of the Constitution.

How does the author build understanding of the relationship between democracy in ancient Greece and the United States?

• by analyzing how the threats facing Greek city-states were similar to those facing the states formed from the original colonies
• by comparing the Electoral College used in U.S. presidential elections to the systems that Athenians used to elect their senators
• by explaining how countries around the world including the United States as well as international laws adapted the Rule of Law to fit their needs
• by describing the fundamental government structures and written ideas of ancient Greece that influenced the founders of the United States.

Who is often credited with pioneering a democratic government that influenced the United States?

• The Egyptians

• The Greeks

• The Romans

• The British