The O rigins of G overnm ent

Transcription

1 CH V 2O (Civics) The O rigins of G overnm ent The Evolution of Democracy

2 The WAY decisions are m ade tells us the FORM of Government Imagine a caveman society Tribal Family Associations The strongest (usually Male) asserts their will and a leader emerges Why does it happen this way?

3 Origins: Ancient Athens (Greece) Birthplace of Democracy (3,000 years ago) Rule by the People : Demos = People Kratein = To Rule Who could vote? All adult, male citizens Who could NOT vote? Women, slaves and men of foreign birth

4 Origins: Ancient Athens (Greece) How was Democracy practiced? Polises (City States) Pnyx / Ecclesia Discussion on the issues of the day How was this possible? Small (only 40,000) Simple Majority Vote Rights vs. Responsibilities

5 Origins: Ancient Athens (Greece) What were these Rights and Responsibilities? Aristotle and Plato: active and knowledgeable citizenship (someone who took their duties seriously) Citizens were entitled to Protection under the Law Share in prosperity because of contribution to development of society

6 Origins: Ancient Athens (Greece) What were these Rights and Responsibilities? What were these responsibilities? to inform oneself participate in government to commit oneself to the improvement of Athens (taxation, physical labour / defense, etc.)

7 Origins: Ancient Rome The earliest pioneers of bureaucracy An organized system of civil servants which were needed to administer the empire (to assert Roman Control over the area) Roman ingenuity seen as a big factor in the development of governmental structure

8 Origins: Ancient Rome Roman Ingenuity Huge roads & aqueducts added to the efficient functioning of the empire Many civil servants and administrators were sent to all areas of the empire

9 Origins: Ancient Rome Roman Ingenuity However citizens had few rights had no equal participation in the decision-making process could be drafted into the army at any time could be called upon to help in major construction projects at any time Eventually, the Roman Empire declines and falls.

10 Origins: The Fall of Ancient Rome In AD 410, the Visigoth hordes sacked Rome. This event symbolized the Empire s collapse. Within 70 years, the Western Empire - what we think of as Ancient Rome - was abandoned.

11 Absolutism: The Divine Right of Kings By the fall of the Roman Empire MONARCHS (Kings, Emperors, etc.) achieved their power / position through Heredity (passed through family) and controlled territories of a fragmented Europe How was their Rule justified?

12 Absolutism: The Divine Right of Kings Divine Right of Kings the King was chosen by god was god s representative on earth therefore, the King s Word was law (could not be questioned, challenged or criticized) What did citizens do? their job was to obey the King s Word (pay taxes, build roads, join army, etc.)

13 Absolutism: The Divine Right of Kings 1215 AD: Constitutionalism appears What happened? Why should monarch have absolute power? Why are there no rules for monarchs to follow? English Barons & Nobles were upset at King John s continuous demands for more taxes and joined forces against him.

14 Constitutionalism: The Magna Carta They forced the King to sign the MAGNA CARTA (the Great Charter) What did this document do? changed the power of the monarchy and clearly defined the rights / responsibilities between the King / nobility (Feudal System)

15 Constitutionalism: The Magna Carta Why so important? It was a major step toward Democracy It proved that no one was above the law, including the Monarch (marking the end of arbitrary rule ) Limited / kept in check a monarch s power Did NOT create democracy It provided Protection vs. arrest and imprisonment without a reasonable cause Elimination of cruel and unusual punishment (i.e. Trial by ordeal) Eliminated double jeopardy (tried more than once for same offence) Created the English Parliament

16 Constitutionalism: The Magna Carta Documents such as the Magna Carta and the later Petition of Rights contained ideas that supported the development of democratic ideas and practices people felt empowered by these ideas and, when dissatisfied with their ruler, would rise up in revolt

17 Democracy: The Age of Revolution Thomas Hobbes (17th C English Philosopher) Observed the English Civil War (overthrow of Charles I) and the iron rule of Oliver Cromwell Argued that life without government was solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short because human beings were basically egotistical and selfish. Believed that to prevent anarchy, the people had to surrender freedom for order. They gave up the right to do completely as they wished to a ruler who provided order and stability, but who demanded complete obedience. Felt people need a strong government to keep them from killing each other

18 Democracy: The Age of Revolution John Locke (18th Century English Philosopher) Wrote two Treatises rejecting Hobbes: puts individual rights ahead of the government Argued that man was rational and not innately aggressive Natural Rights: Life, Liberty & the Protection of Property Believed that citizens had the right to overthrow their government if it was not serving their needs

19 Democracy: The Age of Revolution John Locke (18th Century English Philosopher) The natural liberty of m an is to be free from any superior pow er on earth, and not to be under the w ill or legislative authority of m an, but to have only the law of nature for his rule. The liberty of m an in society is to be under no other legislative pow er but that established by consent in the com m onw ealth; nor under the dom inion of any w ill or restraint of any law, but w hat that legislative shall enact according to the trust put in it

20 Democracy: The Age of Revolution The American Revolution (1776) The American Declaration of Independence states that all men are created equal all governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed. The idea was considered radical at the time. It was unique. A government of the people, by the people, for the people

21 Democracy: The Age of Revolution The American Revolution (1776) W e the People of the U nited States, in O rder to form a m ore perfect U nion, establish Justice, insure dom estic tranquility, provide for the com m on defense, prom ote the general W elfare, and secure the B lessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the U nited States of A m erica. A rticle I. Section 1. A ll legislative Pow ers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the U nited States, w hich shall consist of a Senate and H ouse of R epresentatives. Section 2. The H ouse of R epresentatives shall be com posed of M em bers chosen every second Year by the People of the several States, and the E lectors in each State shall have the Q ualifications requisite for E lectors of the m ost num erous B ranch of the State Legislature.

22 Democracy: The Age of Revolution The French Revolution (1789) 3rd Estate (Commoners) rebels against unfair taxation (vs. Aristocracy and Clergy) The Political terms Left and Right have been used to refer to political affiliation since the early part of the French Revolutionary era.

23 Democracy: The Age of Revolution The French Revolution (1789) Referred to the seating in the French Legislative Assembly of 1791 King Louis XVI was still the formal head of state The moderate royalists sat on the right side of the chamber The radicals sat on the left. "The Right" implied support for aristocratic, royal and clerical interests (traditional) "The Left" implied support for republicanism, secularism and civil liberties

24 Democracy: The Age of Revolution The French Revolution (1789) The French Revolution ends the absolute monarchy and the Declaration of the Rights of Man is introduced (after the public execution of Louis XVI, his Queen Marie Antoinette, and countless members of the nobility) Based on the ideals of Equality, Fraternity and Liberty for all citizens New ideas about the nature of government are seen here

25 Democracy in the 20 th Century World War II is fought to battle the fascist regimes of Germany and Italy After the War, the Marshall Plan is implemented in order to rebuild Europe on democratic principles

26 Democracy in the 20 th Century The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is issued by the United Nations (1948) The G eneral A ssem bly Proclaim s this U niversal D eclaration of H um an R ights as a com m on standard of achievem ent for all peoples and all nations

27 Democracy Timeline 1989: Fall of the Berlin Wall 1991: Soviet Union disintegrates 1994: Apartheid Ends, Free Elections introduced in South Africa