Democracy Cheat Sheet

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“Cheat Sheet” Key Points of Philosophers, Political Thinkers, and Leaders Key Documents in the Evolution of Democracy Direct democracy was established in Athens, Greece, between 508 B.C.-404 B.C. Citizens voted directly for laws. Plato (b. 428 B.C.) 1. Society functions best if each person understands his/her strengths and weaknesses and performs his/her proper role. Talent, not wealth, determines a citizen’s proper role, i.e., strong and courageous men become soldiers, those skilled with their hands become laborers, etc. 2. Education essential for good government—teach people to be good citizens. 3. Democracy is “mob rule,” yet also said power should not be located in a power autocrat. Believed in philosopher-kings—the smartest lovers of knowledge…show more content…
5. Live communally—no pay and no property. Three classes: 1) Philosopher Kings, 2) Guardians to defend society, 3) Ordinary citizens whose duty was obedience. Aristotle (b. 384 B.C.) 1. Humans are not born good, but learn to be virtuous. 2. Best government provides for a properly educated middle class – they are free of excesses found in upper and middle class. 3. Democracy is the least dangerous form of government, but can lead people to believe they are equal in every way—which they are not! 4. Majority is supreme and whatever they approve must be just. 5. Monarchy and aristocracy are acceptable so long as ruler is virtuous and takes advice from philosophers. The Magna Carta (1215) signed by the King of England. Resulted in a limited monarchy; king had to consult nobles to tax citizens or go to war. Also established the principal that the king or queen must obey the law. Queen Elizabeth (b. 1533) 1. Daughter of King Henry VIII of England and Anne Boleyn (Henry’s second wife). Her father had her mother beheaded because he suspected her of adultery. He went on to have six wives! Interestingly, Elizabeth never married. 2. Her father had broken with the Catholic Church b/c he wanted to be able…show more content…
These documents have served as models for numerous other governments. Karl Marx (b. 1818) 1. According to Marx, the history of the world was the history of class conflict (the ‘haves’ verses the ‘have nots’). 2. Developed a philosophy of economics called communism that had profound political implications. 3. Communism was a reaction against the industrial revolution deprivation of the rights and dignities of the working class. 4. Believed industrialism forced people into two rival categories: the middle class and the working class. These classes would always fight for political power, but the middle class would always rule because it owned the factories, property, and money and needed to oppress the workers to stay in power. 5. He advised workers to form unions that would overthrow the middle class. 6. He believed there were four steps to achieving communism: feudalism (serfs serving lords, working the land for nothing), capitalism (money exchanged for goods and services), socialism (in which everything is owned by the government, which oversees a classless society), and finally communism (a utopian
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