1. Aim: Identifying the Differences Between Athenian Democracy and US Democracy

2. Democracy Develops in Athens
500 BCE
People of Athens try governing themselves
Develop Democracy:
Rule by the people
In Democracy, all citizens share in ruling power.
Citizen: Member of a democracy, who has certain rights and responsibilities 2

3. Greek Democracy vs US Democracy
Greek democracy different from US Democracy
Athens used Direct Democracy
Every citizen can vote on every issue
U.S. uses Representative Democracy
People vote for representatives who decide on issues in their name 3

4. How did Direct Democracy work?
Athens had assembly:
Lawmaking group
Any free man could speak in Assembly and vote on new laws
Not all Greeks believed that democracy was a good type of government
Powerful speakers sometimes persuaded ordinary citizens to vote unwisely 4