Unit 2 Flashcards
(47 cards)
Republic
system of government where citizens elect representatives to govern for them
Mayflower Compact
A written agreement signed in 1620 by male colonists before leaving the Mayflower ship.
It set up a direct democracy for the Plymouth Plantation colony (social contract and self-government).
It was important because the decisions were made for the good of the colony.
It was small and they agreed to do everything together.
House of Burgesses
Virginia’s representative government system established in 1619 at the start of the Jamestown colony.
This is the first example of a republic (representative democracy) in the British Colonies.
Colonists elected leaders to represent them in an assembly.
Democracy
A system of government that is defined as rule by the people.
Direct Democracy
In Ancient Athens, citizens had the responsibility to participate in their government.
Less people and small groupings
Citizens of a town discuss and then vote to decide if a new law should be adopted for their town, which is an example of a direct democracy. In New England, this would happen at a ____ _____ (two words).
Town Meeting
Why was the Mayflower Compact important to the colonists?
Because they agreed that they would all make decisions for the good of the colony. It was so important, they signed the agreement while still on their ship.
Which characteristic of the U.S. government was most influenced by the ancient Roman Republic?
Separation of powers
How were powers separated in the ancient Roman Republic?
Senators made laws for the republic
Executive leadership was shared by 2 elected officials
Judges presided over court cases
The British Parliament (government) gave the colonies, like Virginia, some independence in setting up their own self-government because…
it was not practical or efficient to rule the colonies from so far away.
Since the Roman Empire had more citizens to participate in government, they needed…
a system where citizens could elect representatives to govern on their behalf.
The Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy
A group of six native nations that joined together for protection and strength, and they had their own constitution called the Great Law of Peace.
Women had the right to vote.
Had the colonies united with central government
Elected elders to lead
–» Inspired the US Constitution
Albany Plan of Union
A proposal to create a unified government for the 13 British colonies.
They would have had a central government with a president chosen by the British king in order to fight against the French
Before the French and Indian War, Benjamin Franklin proposed this plan at the Albany Congress
It was rejected by the British Parliament
The Roman Republic has many similarities to the United State political system including a two-house system made up of the Senate and Assembly. How is this seen in the US government?
Senate & House of Representatives/
Legislative Branch
After the fall of the Roman Empire in Western Europe, it was anarchy (chaos). As a result, people were…
worried about survival and not about their rights or government.
What are three principles the Iroquois Confederacy Constitution and the U.S. Constitution have in common?
Limited government
Separation of powers
Representative democracy
True or False:
The United States of America is a republic.
True
True or False:
Benjamin Franklin’s Albany Plan of Union called for the 13 colonies to unite against a common enemy, the French.
True
True or False:
The Mayflower Compact was signed by all the people on the Mayflower who planned to settle in the colony.
False
Roman Republic
A great, early example of a representative democracy because it was too large and diverse for a direct democracy to work.
Examples of a Republic
Rome
Representative democracy
US federal (national) government
House of Burgesses
Albany Plan of Union
Elected officials
Examples of Direct Democracy
Mayflower compact
Athens
Direct participation
New England town meetings
The Ekklesia (assembly)
Athens’s main governing body
Made the most important decisions: voting on laws, deciding whether to go to war, determining foreign policy
Any Athenian citizen could attend and vote
Met 40 Times per year
Required a simple majority to pass
The Boule (council of 500)
Made up of 500 men (50 from each of the 10 Athenian tribes)
Were chosen by lottery and served 1-year terms
Made decisions about day-to-day government and decided what issues should go in front of the Ekklesia
