Essay on Roots of American Democracy - 2355 Words

When referring to classical antiquity period, most think of Greece and Rome dominating and flourishing in the areas of philosophy, sciences, mathematics and literature. One other admirable achievement, the establishment of early forms of democracy, came from this time period and should not be overlooked as it is the historical basis of our government today. The Founding Fathers of the United States were influenced by Greek and Roman concepts in law, government structure, and even philosophy. Concepts described in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States can be traced back historically to the classical antiquity period, and show that the United States government and law were modeled after those of Greece†¦show more content†¦The Athenian city-state had originally been divided into four tribes based on family relations, and as a result, these families formed clans which led to tyranny. Cleisthenes organized the people of the city into ten trib es according to their deme, or area of residency. He also formed the Assembly, made up of free men given the right to vote (The Greeks - Cleisthenes). This group of men met regularly to discuss and vote on the proposed laws for the city, and therefore decided on the policies that would govern their own behavior – known as participatory direct democracy. The laws were proposed by the Boule, made up of five hundred men chosen at random, and were put in the city for all to see. Each man in the Boule served a one year term, and could serve a maximum of two terms in their lifetime. The Boule was stressed to follow the Bouletic Oath - â€Å"To advise according to the laws what was best for the people† (Blackwell, 2003). By implementing democratic reform, Athens was ushered into a period of achievement and prosperity. Pericles, an Athenian statesman and general during the Golden Age of Greece was a firm believer in this direct democracy. In his Funeral Oration, Pericles made several points about the importance of democracy and equality before law, stating that â€Å"democracy favors the many instead of the few.† This holds true today in American government, as does equality before law. In Pericles’ Funeral Oration he states: If we look to the laws,Show MoreRelatedRoots of American Democracy Essay642 Words   |  3 Pagessources. More specifically, the American form of Democracy stretch back beyond the formation of the United States, having origin in ancient Greek thinking, the Enlightenment, as well as the English and their injustice, The United States owes its birth as a country to many areas of influence. The Ancient Greeks were the first to put the power of a nation in the hands of the average citizen, they created the idea of the democratic government, practiced as a direct democracy. Voting, political assemblyRead MoreThe Facade Of Universal Inclusion1539 Words   |  7 Pagesimage of liberalism would also include obligation. This paper will argue that a fuller image of liberalism is not a prescription to end white citizenship, because universal inclusion will not address the root issue that white citizenship is inherently etched indelibly into the fabric of American politics. Opponents may argue that liberalism gives everyone with property the same rights through universal inclusion. People enter social contracts in order to protect their property. A fuller image ofRead MoreIssues Of Inequality And Poor Healthcare Essay1694 Words   |  7 Pageshealthcare, while are arguably equal in importance to the livelihood of human beings, differ in the tractability for change. The analysis of inequality is necessary due to the fact that inequality inhibits economic growth and social mobility, impairs democracy, and eludes a certain standard of fairness. 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