Ancient Influencers

Which statement identifies an important influence of ancient Greece on the founders of the American constitutional republic?

• The founders established a representative form of government.

• The founders based their laws on ethical ideas of justice.

• The founders created a government with a separation of powers.

• The founders adopted democratic principles.

In ancient Athens, all adult male citizens were able to vote in the Assembly, the legislative body that decided on important issues facing the polis. What did this practice illustrate?

• the separation of powers

• representative government

• the rise of democratic principles

• the protection of individual rights

Which characteristic did the government of the city-state of Athens in ancient Greece share with the government of ancient Rome?

• separation of powers

• civic participation

• republicanism

• representative government

The diagram shows the impact of an important tradition. Which phrase completes the diagram?

• Ethical ideas of justice

• Republicanism

• Voting rights

• Separation of powers

The statement below was made in a speech by Pericles, the leader of Athens, around 430 b.c.

Our government does not copy the laws of our neighbors. Instead, it serves as an example to them. We are called a democracy because our government is in the hands of the many and not of the few ...

How did the example mentioned in this speech influence the founders of the American constitutional republic, 2,500 years later?

• They designed a system of checks and balances.

• They placed the final power of government in ordinary citizens.

• They gave political power to an all-powerful ruler.

• They created a government of elected representatives.

The passage below was written by John Adams in his book Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America (1787).

The republic of Athens, the school mistress of the whole civilized world, for more than a thousand years in arts, eloquence and philosophy ... was for a short period ... the most democratical commonwealth in Greece.

Based on this passage, with which statement about ancient Athens would Adams have agreed?

• Its government was based on majority rule.

• Its government was based on ethical ideas of justice.

• Its government protected individual rights.

• Its government was controlled by an all-powerful dictator.

The statement below was sent by George Washington to John Burgoyne, a leading British general, during the American Revolution.

The associated armies in America act from the noblest motives, liberty. These same principles [inspired] the arms of Rome in the days of her glory ...

Which conclusion can be drawn from this statement?

• Washington was inspired by the example of ancient Romans who defended republicanism.

• The Romans created a separation of powers to protect their form of republican government.

• The ancient Romans believed all individuals were equal in the eyes of God.

• Washington hoped to make himself as powerful as the emperors of ancient Rome

Which institution today is most similar to a polis in ancient Greece?

• a state legislature of elected representatives

• an association of independent nations

• a federal system of government

• a self-governing city

The chart shows the influence of certain democratic principles. Which sentence completes the chart?

• A king or queen inherits power.

• Citizens elect their own representatives.

• Judges are appointed for to serve for life.

• An all-powerful President controls the government.

The chart shows some of the influences of ancient Rome on America’s constitutional republic. Which sentence completes the chart?

• Women, children, foreign residents, and enslaved individuals had no rights since they were not considered as citizens.

• Most city-states at this time had their own written constitutions.

• All citizens were subject to the same rules, displayed in public on twelve bronze tablets.

• Rules of conduct were based on ethical ideas of justice about right and wrong.