Democracy in Athens

Do Now Take out your vocabulary sheet and

Persian Wars Questions.

Democracy in Athens Cleisthenes created a direct

democracy

Assembly would either accept or veto laws

Only free males over 18 years old could vote (no slaves or women)

Cleisthenes

Pericles Made more democratic reforms

Believed that all citizens, rich and poor, should serve equally in government

Laid a foundation for future democracies

Pericles

Activity Turn to page 321 of your textbook to

read about Pericles.

Pericles’ Funeral Oration In 431 B.C., Pericles gave a speech,

called Pericles’ Funeral Oration, to honor those killed in a war between Athens and Sparta. The speech gives a new view of Athenians as citizens who put aside their own problems for the sake of the city-state. They obeyed laws because they wanted to, and therefore the citizens were part of the democratic system.

Pericles Background Pericles was related to Cleisthenes. As

leader, Pericles oversaw a truce with Sparta in 445 B.C. This time of peace allowed him time to spend public funds on rebuilding Athens. His greatest building project was the Parthenon, which in today’s money cost about $3 billion. The money came in part from tribute paid by members of the Delian League.

Parthenon

Parthenon

Parthenon

Parthenon

Parthenon Reconstruction

Cesar Chavez Cesar Chavez can be compared to

Pericles. In the 1960’s, Chavez worked for equal rights and justice for poor farmworkers, many of whom where Mexican American. He formed a group that would become the United Farm Workers of America. This group used nonviolent actions to get higher wages and better working conditions for farmworkers.

Cesar Chavez

DIRECT DEMOCRACYREPRESENTATIVE

DEMOCRACY All citizens make

decisions directly about their government

Best suited for small populations that are able to meet frequently

Example: Athens in 508 B.C.

Citizens elect representatives to make decisions for all

Best suited for large populations that cannot meet as a whole

Example: The United States today

Wrap Up What is a direct democracy?

What is a representative democracy?

Which one was used in Athens?

Which one works best for the United States? Why?