1. Government in Ancient Athens
Chapter 8, Section 2 TB
7th Social Studies
Mrs. Coldiron

2. Ancient Greece Birthplace of democracy
Democracy means “rules of the people”
However, Greece did not start as a democracy

3. Aristocrats Rule In the beginning kings rules the government.
Aristocrats, rich landowners, took power.
Created an oligarchy, a government in which only a few people have power.
Oligarchy means “rule by a few”
Ran the cities economy, served as generals and judges.
A group of rebels tried to overthrow this government.

4. End to the Aristocracy They failed
Athens was ready to end the rule of the aristocracy.

5. The Rise of the Tyrants
Peisistratus overthrew the oligarchy to become ruler of Athens.
Peisistratus was a tyrant.
Brought peace and prosperity, created a strong army.
Peisistratus died leaving his son.
Aristocrats conveinced a rival city-state to attack Athens.
The Tyrants lost power
Aristocrats returned to power in Athens.

6. Cleisthenes Gained power in Athens.
Member of the most powerful families in Athens
Didn’t want aristocrats to run the government.
Overthrew the aristocracy
Developed the world’s first democracy
Sometimes known as the father of democracy

7. Democracy under Cleisthenes
All citizens in Athens had the right to participate in the assembly.
Every citizen had the right to speak his opinion.
Voting was done by a show of hands - sometimes however they would use secret ballots

8. Changes in Athenian Democracy
Citizens gained more power
Citizens served on juries (200-6,000)
Athens remained a democracy for 170 years.

9. End of Democracy in Athens
Athens was conquered by the Macedonians from north of Greece.
Athens fell under Macedonian influence.
Powers of democracy were limited.
Athenians could still meet to make laws, but had to be careful not to upset the king.
A new king took over Greece and ended Athenian democracy forever.

10. Democracy Then and Now In Athenian Direct Democracy…. In American
Representative Democracy
All citizens met as a group to debate and vote directly on every issue
Citizens elect representatives to debate and vote on issues for them.
There was no separation of powers. Citizens created laws, enforced laws, and acted as judges.
There is a separation of powers. Citizens elect some people to create laws, others to enforce laws, and others to be judges.
Only free male citizens could vote. Women and slaves could not vote.
Men and woman who are citizens have the right to vote.