The Rise of The Rise of Democratic Ideas!Democratic Ideas!

Unit #1: Defining America and Unit #1: Defining America and Where Our Democratic Ideas Came Where Our Democratic Ideas Came

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The Rise of Democratic Ideas: Essential Questions

1. How did Greek, Roman, and Judeo-Christian ideas lead to Democracy in America?

2. What role did European developments have on the Democracy in America?

What is a Democracy?• Definition: A system of government run and

administered by the people of a society• Democracies did not just materialize out of thin

air• For centuries before our own society decided

democracy is the way to go, the prevailing view was that people were neither responsible, qualified, nor smart enough to rule themselves.

• They needed kings, queens, emperors, warlords and other "more qualified" to be the leaders of a society.

What are Examples of a Democracy?What are Examples of a Democracy?

• Our American government system, American Idol, School ASB elections

• A classroom is not a democratically run system

The Rise of Democratic IdeasThematic Ideas of the Spread of Democracy

Equality – All people are Equality – All people are created equalcreated equal

• 10 Commandments• Roman Laws• The Reformation• Cleisthenes, leader of

Athens in Ancient Greece

Rights – Protected FreedomsRights – Protected Freedoms• English Bill of Rights• 10 Commandments• The Magna Carta• The U.S. Constitution

Liberty – The Ability To Choose Liberty – The Ability To Choose One’s FateOne’s Fate

• Declaration of Independence• The Enlightenment Era

Opportunity – A Chance to Do Opportunity – A Chance to Do What You Want/CanWhat You Want/Can

• Declaration of Independence• The Renaissance

Democracy – The People Democracy – The People Choose Their Political FateChoose Their Political Fate

• The U.S. Constitution• The French Revolution• Greek Democracy• Roman Laws• The Magna Carta

• The Declaration The Declaration of Independenceof Independence

• IDEALS:– Equality– Rights– Liberty– Opportunity– Responsibility– Democracy

• The The Constitution Constitution of the of the United United StatesStates

• IDEALS– Rule of Law– Equality– Rights– Liberty– Separation

of Powers

GREECEGREECE

AMERICAAMERICAENGLANDENGLAND

ROMEROME

RELIGIORELIGIONN

THE THE ENLIGHTENMEENLIGHTENMENT & NT & SCIENTIFIC SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTIONREVOLUTION

CONTRIBUTIONCONTRIBUTIONS TO S TO

DEMOCRATIC DEMOCRATIC IDEASIDEAS

Aristotle (384-322 BCE)• Aristotle argued that

the goal of a human being is happiness, and that we achieve happiness when we make reasonable choices with our actions.

• To Aristotle, if people act reasonably, they are happy, and all of society benefits.

• The goal: be happy, be reasonable.

Who Have We Influenced?Who Have We Influenced?• Much like our Democratic country was

influenced by historical movements and the Rise of Democratic Ideas, other countries were influenced by those movements after we became a democratic country

• The difference between us and them is that they had a real, tangible, and modern example to model themselves after

• Think of the U.S. democracy as a “role model” for other countries and institutions

The French Revolution The French Revolution (1789-mid 1800s) (1789-mid 1800s)

• A revolution by the people in revolt of their ineffective King

• A representative government was formed where people chose their leaders

• The movement was based on the idea of “social justice” not Natural Rights like the American Revolution

Latin American Latin American Revolutions Revolutions

(Late 1700s – 1800s)(Late 1700s – 1800s)• Using the ideas of the

Enlightenment and examples of the Americans and French

• Numerous countries in South America, Central America, and Mexico struggled for independence from European countries

• Simon Bolivar is still viewed as the hero of Latin American countries

Europe After WWII Europe After WWII (1945-1960s)(1945-1960s)

• After millions of deaths and close to a decade of war that gripped the world, numerous countries in Europe switched from dictatorships to democracies

• The United States had a hand in helping create democratic institutions in Germany, Italy, Austria, and other countries previously under Nazi occupation

““WE SHALL BE THE GREAT ARSENAL OF DEMOCRACY…”WE SHALL BE THE GREAT ARSENAL OF DEMOCRACY…”

The United Nations The United Nations (1945-Present)(1945-Present)

• Created after WWII as an international body to ensure future wars will not be quick to materialize

• Countries join and follow rules in order to keep peace

• Its also a way to air grievances against other countries

We the peoples of the We the peoples of the United Nations United Nations

determined:determined:•to save succeeding to save succeeding generations from the generations from the scourge [curse] of warscourge [curse] of war•to reaffirm faith in to reaffirm faith in fundamental human fundamental human rightsrights……

Iraq & Afghanistan (2003-Iraq & Afghanistan (2003-Present)Present)

• The U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003 to remove the dictator Saddam Hussein

• Controversial from the start, the invasion and occupation lasted for years as the U.S. worked to install a democratic government

• The government and experiment in democracy has lasted but its fate is undetermined