King Hammurabi

Ancient Babylonian King who brought order out of chaos by creating and enforcing harsh laws in what is now Iraq. Hammurabi believed the best form of government was absolute monarchy enforced by clearly known written laws. “Hammurabi’s Code” is one of the first set of laws in recorded history. Many of Hammurabi’s punishments were retributive (vengeful) in nature. For example, Hammurabi’s Code contains the famous phrase, an “eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth.”

Jewish and Christian Laws Focused primarily on ethics (good and bad) and morality (right and wrong).

Who Should Lead? Four Styles of Government

Opening Which is the best way to make a decision? One person chooses A few people choose Many people choose All people chooses

Summarize this book with your neighbor What does it say about human beings?

Lord of the Flies Famous book that uses the story of schoolboys on an island as an allegory for the struggle between autocracy and democracy – and to comment on human nature.

Lord of the Flies Jack’s WayRalph’s Way

Lord of the Flies Ralph’s Way Multiple decision makers (group) Free speech Relies on hope and individuality Peaceful Jack’s Way Individual decision maker (leader) No free speech Relies on fear and conformity Violent

Leadership Styles Democratic Way Multiple decision makers (group) Free speech Relies on hope and individuality Peaceful Autocratic Way Individual decision maker (leader) No free speech Relies on fear and conformity Violent

Government Styles Democracy Multiple decision makers (group) Free speech Relies on hope and individuality Peaceful Autocracy Individual decision maker (leader) No free speech Relies on fear and conformity Violent

Government Styles DemocracyAutocracy Decisions made by… everyone through voting Decisions made by… a group of elected leaders Decisions made by… a group of unelected leaders Decisions made by… one unelected leader

Government Styles DemocraticAutocratic Names/Notes… Direct Democracy Ex: A Petition Names/Notes… In-Direct Democracy Constitutional Monarchy Republic Representative Democracy Names/Notes… Limited Monarchy Names/Notes… Autocracy Absolute Monarchy Dictatorship Tyranny Totalitarian Emperor

Greek & Roman Laws Focused primarily on property (ownership) and power (rights).

Democracy – root word DEMOS = “the people” KRATOS = “power”

Ancient Athens Birthplace of Direct Democracy

Ancient Athens Between 500 BC and 450 BC, the city-state of Athens, Greece overthrew its tyrant and experimented with Direct Democracy during its “Golden Age.” All citizens were invited to speak freely and vote on laws and important decisions in the Assembly. Citizens were chosen at random to serve on juries and serve on leadership councils.

Athenian Values Individuality: All citizens are able to think, speak and act as they choose.

Athenian Rights Freedom: All citizens can vote to decide what the society will do.

Athenian Responsibilities Equality: All citizens should contribute to society by serving in the military, serving on juries, or holding a leadership position.

Ancient Rome Birthplace of In-Direct (Representative) Democracy

Ancient Roman Republic Between 500 BC and 46 BC, the city-state of Rome, Italy experimented with Indirect (representative) Democracy. All citizens were invited to vote to choose wise representatives to speak freely, and make laws and important decisions by voting. Senators were elected to reflect popular public opinion in lawmaking and leadership.

Twelve Tables The Ancient Roman Republic’s legal code. The tables described how senators were elected, how laws were made, and how power was used. The Roman Republic’s “Constitution”

Dictatorship (in Rome) During times of crisis, the elected leaders of Rome would vote to give power to a military leader. When the crisis was over, the military leader would return power to the elected leaders. The military leader was called a dictator.

Julius Caesar Emperor Augustus Two men who changed Rome from a Republic to an Empire.

Socrates Ancient Greek philosopher who started a school that taught students to question everything. His method was to ask questions that could not be answered. He argued that “the unexamined life is not worth living.” He was accused of “corrupting the youth” for teaching students to question the wisdom of their parents, religion, society and democracy. He was sentenced to death for his “crime,” but committed suicide rather than be punished for thinking freely.

Plato Ancient Greek philosopher who was a student of Socrates. He thought that democracy’s trust in the average citizen to make decisions was a bad idea. He believed that if all citizens were well educated, democracy could be good, because they are not, it is bad. He argued that the best form of government was leadership by one person, the smartest man in society, a “philosopher king.” His famous book is “The Republic.”

Aristotle Ancient Greek philosopher who was a student of Plato. He thought democracy’s trust in people of different classes to vote for what’s best overall was a bad idea. He believed the rich vote to take advantage of the poor and that the poor vote to take from the rich. Therefore the only people who could be trusted to vote fairly were the middle class (educated but not rich). He argued that the best form of government was a king advised by philosophers from the middle class. His famous book is “The Politics.”

Julius Caesar Popular Roman general who led his army into the city and overthrew the elected senators and became dictator. One of the men who changed Rome from a Republic to an Empire.

Critiques of Democracy People are too slow to make decisions. People are too selfish to make decisions. People are too stupid to make decisions. People are too sheepish to make decisions. SocratesPlatoAristotleCaesar

Thomas Hobbes

English philosopher who argued that the best form of government was Absolute Monarchy, so long as the king was good to his subjects. He believed people were naturally evil and wicked, and therefore need rules (a “social contract”) to escape what would otherwise be “nasty, brutish and short” lives. His famous book is “The Leviathan”

John Locke

English philosopher who argued that the best form of government was one that respected people’s “natural rights” to “life, liberty, and property.” To him, the best form of government was Indirect Democracy. He believed that leaders who do not protect their people’s “natural rights” are breaking the “social contract” and deserve to be overthrown. This idea helped inspire the American Revolution. His famous book is “Two Treatises of Government”

Baron de Montesquieu

French philosopher who argued that the best form of government was anything that divided the legislative, executive and judicial powers amongst people. Montesquieu believed that when too much power is given to one person, they become corrupt, and the society suffers. As a result, rather than give all power to a king, he argued for a “separation of state power” into executive, legislative, and judicial branches. His famous book is “The Spirit of the Laws”

Jean Jacques Rousseau

Swiss born philosopher who argued that the best form of government was Direct Democracy. Unlike Hobbes and Locke, who believed that people need rules to avoid killing each other, Rousseau believed that people were naturally good, and that goodness could be fostered through education. To Rousseau, the “social contract” was meant to empower, not enslave. His famous book is “On the Social Contract”

Closing To be completed in your notebook: 1) Choose one of the four Enlightenment thinkers and discuss his ideas of government using two of the 3 perspectives