The Birth of Democracy

1. Learning Target: To understand the development of democracy through history and know the documents which helped progress the idea of democracy The Birth of Democracy SS Core 9 September 26, 2012

2. Ancient Civilizations • Mesopotamia • Babylon – Hammurabi’s Law Code • #6 If any one steal the property of…the court, he shall be put to death, and also the one who receives the stolen thing from him shall be put to death. • #125 If any one place his property with another for safe keeping, and…the property be lost, the owner of the house…shall compensate the owner… • #196If a man put out the eye of another man, his eye shall be put out. • #229-32If a builder…does not construct [a house] properly and the house he built fall in and…ruin goods, [the builder] shall make compensation for all that has been ruined… What seems to be important to the Babylonians?

3. Ancient Civilizations • Ancient Greece • The Polis, or city-state • Small cities in which all citizens participated in government • All citizens were directly involved in: • Politics • Justice • Military service • Religious ceremony • Intellectual discussion • Duties, not rights • Not fulfilling duties was unacceptable (idiotai)

4. Ancient Civilizations • Ancient Greece • "it is necessary for the citizens to be of such a number that they knew each other's personal qualities and thus can elect their officials and judge their fellows in a court of law sensibly.“ • What is Aristotle, in his book Politics, saying about the polis and its system of government?

5. Ancient Civilizations • Roman Empire / Republic • Consuls • Each city/town had 2 – elected by the people each year • In time, one must have come from the common class • Senate • Leading citizens (rich nobles) of Rome – served for life • Discussed issues such as: Law creation, financial matters, and war • Other officers were elected as well • Judges and tax collectors, for example • Tribunes of the People • Individuals elected to look after the poor If the senate had the most power, in whose favor do you think they made most decisions?

6. Middle Ages (~500 – 1600 CE) • Feudalism • No central government • Strict Social Hierarchy • Lords (nobles) divided land into fiefs which they gave to vassals (lesser lords and knights) in exchange for military service • Vassals then rented land to farmers (serfs) who grew crops in order to pay rent • Each fiefdom was essentially its own political state • Chaotic – disagreements between lords often led to armed conflict

8. Middle Ages - England • The Magna Carta (June 15, 1215) • Written by barons (land-owning nobility) • Meant to protect rights and property against a tyrannical king (King John) • Interests of common man largely absent • Focused on grievances of the barons against the King • Nullified by Pope Innocent III (August, 1215) • England a Theocratic Monarchy – Kings/Queens accountable to the Pope of the Catholic Church • Re-written and ratified a number of times throughout English history

9. Middle Ages - England • The Magna Carta • 2 principles resonated with the framers of the U.S. Constitution: • “No freeman shall be taken, imprisoned, disseised, outlawed, banished, or in any way destroyed, nor will We proceed against or prosecute him, except by the lawful judgment of his peers and by the law of the land.” • “To no one will We sell, to no one will We deny or delay, right or justice.”

10. The Renaissance Era- England • English Bill of Rights (1689) • Aimed to provide Parliamentary Sovereignty and limit the powers of the monarch • Read through the English Bill of Rights • The number I give you, you must rewrite that right in your own words. Then find your classmates with the same number; compare your answer; update your own words • Report out – share the right in your own words with the class • Roots of American Democracy

11. The Enlightenment Occurred during 18th century in Europe Thinkers aimed to reform society through reason, rather than tradition or faith Promoted scientific and intellectual ideas Opposed superstition, intolerance, and abuses by the church and state

12. Colonial Governments (~1600 – 1777 CE) • Colonial governments were formed according to different legal models, but most involved the following set of institutions: • A Governor or Proprietor held the executive power in the colony; represented the Crown • A Governor’s Council, composed of powerful men, was a body of advisors who might exercise various judicial and administrative powers.  They also guaranteed the support of the colonial elite whenever their advice was taken.  • An Assembly was elected by and represented the citizens of the towns and counties. 

13. Colonial Governments (~1600 – 1777 CE) • Over time, the Council and the elected Assembly grew more powerful.  • The Governor had no means of maintaining his authority or enforcing the laws without the cooperation of the colony’s citizens. • Power struggles arose between the Governors and their Assemblies • By the 1760’s, the Colonial Assemblies had become the center of power in the colonies.  • These Assemblies had won the power to lay taxes on the colonists they represented and to draw up budgets for government expenditures.  • Thus the American colonies become self-government bodies. 

14. Declaration of Independence • Adopted July 4, 1776 by the Continental Congress • One year into the American Revolutionary War • Outlined complaints against British rule • There were many! • What were some? • Ultimately, declared the 13 colonies as independent from England

15. The New United States • Articles of Confederation (adopted Nov. 15, 1777) • Ratified by all 13 states Mar. 1, 1781 • A loose confederation of the states • Weak central government / strong state governments • “Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not by this Confederation expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled.” • “The said States hereby severally enter into a firm league of friendship with each other, for their common defense, the security of their liberties, and their mutual and general welfare…” • What problems might arise from this arrangement? Discuss with a neighbor.

16. The New United States • Articles of Confederation • “delegates shall be annually appointed in such manner as the legislatures of each State shall direct, to meet in Congress… every year, with a power reserved to each State to recall its delegates…at any time within the year…” • “Freedom of speech and debate in Congress shall not be impeached or questioned in any court or place out of Congress, and the members of Congress shall be protected in their persons from arrests or imprisonments, during the time of their going to and from, and attendance on Congress, except for treason, felony, or breach of the peace.” • What do these statements promise? Discuss with a neighbor.

17. The New United States • Continental Congress (1787) • Problems with the Articles of Federation led American leaders to rethink the United State’s government system • Read “The Continental Congress” hand-out • With a partner, answer the following questions on the back: • What were some of the problems with the Articles of Confederation? Why were these were problems? • What was the major difference between the “Virginia Plan” and the “New Jersey Plan”? Why was this a point of contention? What was the “Connecticut Compromise”? • What new ideas and powers were granted by the new constitution? • Creating a New Nation