Power to the People: The Rise of

Athenian Democracy

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Warm Up
OBJECTIVE: SWBAT define monarchy, oligarchy, tyranny, direct democracy,
assembly, and citizen and explain how government was practiced in ancient Athens.

Directions:
• Read each statement.
• Decide whether you think the scenario is
fair or unfair (circle one).
• Explain why or why not.

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Warm Up
1. The mayor of your city has decided that his eldest son will be the next mayor and
that there will no longer be elections each year.
2. Some very wealthy businesspeople decide that everyone in your town must give
them $100 every month so that they can continue to have parties and
entertainment every night.
3. A small group of city councilors (government officials) pass a law that if you cannot
pay your debts, then you have to work for someone who can pay your debts for
the rest of your life.
4. The head of the police department decides he wants to be the mayor, so he puts
the current mayor in jail. When people try to speak out against him or criticize
him, he uses the police to put them in jail, too.
5. A new law has been proposed, but before it is voted on, citizens can come to talk
and give their opinion on the new law and then vote on whether or not it should
be passed.
Share out: Which of these situations are the most or least fair? Why?

Agenda
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Launch
Monarchy: A form of government in which one person, such
as a king, queen, or emperor, rules and holds the power. The
power is usually passed down through the family.

Cecrops:
The mythical first king of Athens King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia
(an important Greek city-state.) (Present day absolute monarch!)

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Launch
oligarchy—a form of government in which a small group of
people, usually wealthy aristocrats, rule and hold power
together.

Aristocrats were wealthy

One well known oligarchy was
landowners in ancient
found in Sparta, an ancient
Greece
Greek city-state.

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Launch

Tyranny: A form of government in which the ruler

seizes and takes power illegally, often through force.

In 510 BC, Cleisthenes helped Athens be set

free from the Tyrant Hippias. Statue of Cleisthenes
He was the last tyrant of Athens.

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Launch

Direct Democracy: A type of government in which

the power is held by the people. Every citizen can
vote on every issue.
Citizens on the Pnyx, a flat-topped hill
in Athens to debate and vote. Citizens
participated in many ways. As many
as 6,000 citizens were expected to
participate in the assembly, 500 on
the council, and at least 200 on juries.

Agenda
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Launch
Assembly—A group of citizens who gathered together in
ancient Greece to pass laws.
Ancient Athenian citizens were
expected to participate in the
Assembly. In the 5th century
public slaves were used to herd
citizens from the agora into the
meeting place (Pynx) with a red-
stained rope. A fine was given to
those who got the red on their
clothes. Later, in 403 BCE, pay
for participation was used, but
only for the first 6,000.

Agenda
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Launch
Citizen: A person who legally belongs to a country
and has the rights and protection of that country.

A citizen in ancient Athens only included Athenian

men who had completed military training. Slaves,
freed slaves, women, and children were not
included. By 450 BCE, both mothers and fathers
had to be Athenians for a man to be considered a
citizen. This meant that only about 20% of the
population actively participated.

Two famous citizens:

Plato and Aristotle

Agenda
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 Explore

After each statement, you will have to discuss with

your group which government is being
represented.

Be prepared to defend your decision!

Agenda
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 Explore

Situation 1:

Citizens of Smallville gather in the town hall to discuss,

debate, and then vote on a new law that would lower
the voting age requirement.

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 Explore

Situation 2:

A small group of very wealthy aristocrats in

Largeville decide that everyone will have to pay
higher taxes on everything.

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 Explore

Situation 3:

The queen of Warland decides to declare war on

Peaceland even though her advisors don’t think it’s
a good idea.

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 Explore

Situation 4:

The leader of Groveland throws citizens in jail

because the citizens were questioning whether or
not he was the legal ruler of the land and wanted
an election to select the leader.

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Summary: Whole Class Discussion

Why did direct democracy arise

in ancient Athens?
(Use evidence and examples from what you learned today!)

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