🏛️ Unit I

citizens hold political power either directly or through representatives

citizens rule through elected representatives

• 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

too big populations

• a single person rules with unlimited power

• also called dictatorship and despotism

• Rule by one

• Typically a king

• 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

• a few persons or a small group rule

• Rule determined by wealth, ability, and/or control of military

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

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)

A military-strong city-state in Ancient Greece

A war Athens fought against Sparta that drags on and ultimately leads to humiliating loss for Athens

A city-state in Ancient Greece

• 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

• 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

A person who loves and has deep knowledge on wisdom

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

Humans’ interpretation of the world are perceived from shadows of the true world rather than reality

• 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

• 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

Direct democracy in Athenian government in which all Athenian citizens had the obligation to participate in politics

• intended to prevent the rise of dictators

• reverse elction of politicians (vote out of office)

• 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

in part elected, in larger part chosen by lottery (sortition)

• 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

• 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“

all citizens meet in one place to make laws for their state

inderect democracy; government based on representation with voters electing the officials who would represent them in the government

• Common people

• Can’t vote or hold office

• Most populous class

• *Birth alone determined Roman’s social and political status

• elite class

• dominated Roman politics

• 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

• 300 members

• Rule alongside consuls

• life membership

• made up of Plebians

• elected government officials (ex: Consuls)

• voted on laws suggested by government officials

• declared war or peace

• a ruler with total power

• Rome transitioned to an empire with emperor after republic died away

• a hierarchy

• not democratic

Document that established that the king must obey the law and use only lawful means against his subjects

• 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

• 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)

Created by King Edward I to include commoners in government (ex: peasants, lower classes, nobles)

• kings claim they are chosen by God

• obedience to king = obedience to God

• challenging king = challenging God

• 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

• 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

• 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

loyal to Parliament

loyal to king (King Charles I)

• kind of a dictator

• tries to make England become a a republic for a little

• strict- no merrymaking

• 1660-1685

• people wanted monarchy again

• agreed to limit power

• restored to be king

• allowed people to merrimake

• Habeas Corpus Act took action

• 1679

• Citizens cannot be jailed without a reason to be detained/imprisoned

• 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

• 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

These two step up to throne but have limited power under a constitution and Parliament

• 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

A system of government in which a country is ruled by a king and queen whose power is limited by a constitution

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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