Overview
This lecture covers the influences of Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, and the Judeo-Christian tradition on America's constitutional republic, focusing on key concepts and vocabulary relevant to the 2024 Civics EOC exam.
Ancient Greek Influences
- Ancient Athens is known as the birthplace of democracy ("people power" from the Greek words demos and kratia).
- Civic participation began in Greece, allowing citizens (though not women) to vote and be involved in politics.
- The concept of citizenship originated from the Greek word "polis," meaning a body of citizens under legal jurisdiction.
- Ancient Greece established legislative processes open to regular citizens, leading to the idea of republicanism.
- Greek city-states had constitutions, or plans for government.
Ancient Roman Influences
- The Roman Republic featured a Senate as a representative governing body, but it was dominated by wealthy families (oligarchs).
- Unlike the U.S., Rome had two consuls instead of a single president.
- Romans contributed the idea of separation of powers, splitting government into different branches to prevent tyranny (cruel and oppressive rule).
- Republicanism in Rome influenced the U.S. system of elected representatives, as seen in Congress.
Judeo-Christian Influences
- Israelite Law established justice, individual worth, personal responsibility, and the rule of law, which influenced U.S. principles.
- The 10 Commandments and Old Testament contributed to foundations of moral code and justice.
- The Justinian Code combined Roman law and Christian principles, influencing church (canon) law and U.S. legal traditions.
- Judeo-Christian values encourage laws that promote moral behavior and the concept of equality under the law.
Key Concepts in the U.S. Constitutional Republic
- Founding documents include the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and Bill of Rights.
- The U.S. uses representative democracy (republic) instead of direct democracy for federal laws.
- The Constitution outlines the structure and function of government, limiting rulers' powers.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Republic — A state where power is held by the people and their elected representatives.
- Civic Participation — Involvement of citizens in the political process.
- Citizenship — Membership in a political community with rights and responsibilities.
- Separation of Powers — Division of government into branches to prevent abuse of power.
- Tyranny — Cruel and abusive government rule.
- Oppression — Denial of rights, usually by authority.
- Due Process — Fair treatment using established legal procedures.
- Equality of Mankind — The idea that all people are created equal under the law.
- Limited Government — Government power is restricted by laws and constitutions.
- Natural Rights — Basic rights inherent to all humans (e.g., life, liberty).
- Rule of Law — Principle that everyone, including leaders, must follow the law.
- Religious Liberty — Freedom to practice any religion, protected by the First Amendment.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the definitions of all key terms mentioned.
- Prepare to study additional influences on the Founding Fathers for the next lesson.