Roots of our Democracy What ideas gave birth to the world’s first democratic nation? In your research paper you should be answering the question, “What ideas did the United States use from this person or group of people when creating the US government?”

Greek Democracy All adult male citizens could vote on laws and voice their opinion at meetings. Women, slaves, and children could not vote.

Roman Democracy = Republic Romans elected people to represent them in government. Rich men elected two leaders every year and they had a senate and an assembly. Senators advised the two leaders. The men in the assembly wrote laws.

English Laws and Traditions 3 Important Ideas and Traditions: 1. Law and order 2. Limits on government 3. Representative democracy Document: Magna Carta The king signed the paper giving nobles rights: 1. The king could not raise taxes without the noble’s permission 2. Nobles should be judged by their peers (equals)

Iroquois Nation The idea of semi-sovereign states, and connected under one federal government. The states would elect leaders to come together to make laws for all the states. Everyone is quiet when one person is speaking at the meeting.

English and French Philosophers Enlightenment Thinkers 1. Government was a social contract between the people and the government. 2. All people were born with natural rights that no government could take away. 3. Governments should be organized in a way that prevents any one person from having too much power. 3 braches of government. 4. Government must be based on popular sovereignty, that the people are the ultimate source of power.