To vote in Athenian democracy, you had to be a. a free citizen b. a free land-owning citizen c. a free male citizen
The part of government made up of all eligible Athenian citizens was called a. the Senate b. the Council c. the Assembly
Most democracies around the world are a. direct b. representative c. authoritarian
Discussion/essay questions
Winston Churchill famously said “Democracy is the worst system of government except for all those other forms that have been tried.” What do you think of this quote? Do you agree or disagree? What do you think the best system of government would look like?
Transcript
The word “democracy” comes from the ancient Greek word demokratia. “Demos” means “people” and kratos means “rule.” The idea of demokratia originated in Athens around 500 BCE. Athenian democracy was a direct democracy, which meant it allowed the people to vote on decisions and laws. Not everyone could vote. Only free male citizens were eligible. The eligible people formed a part of government called the Assembly. To participate, Athenian men had to go to Assembly meetings and share their opinions. Although the word “democracy” originated in Greece, there is evidence for other ancient democracies. Some early tribes around the world used popular rule. Many historians now believe that civilizations in Mesoamerica also had democratic governments. Today, most democracies are representative, which means that people elect leaders to make decisions for them. However, some countries, like Switzerland, require referendums for important decisions.
The book Gulliver’s Travels would be best described as a. a memoir b. a satirical novel c. a travelogue
The character Lemuel Gulliver is a. a politician b. a news reporter c. a surgeon
In the last section of the book, Gulliver meets a civilization of a. giants b. flying scientists c. intelligent horses
Discussion/essay questions
What is the purpose of satire? Can you think of a good modern work of satire?
What do you think makes a story appealing to all ages?
Transcript
Gulliver’s Travels is a 1726 satirical novel by Irish author Jonathan Swift. The book is a parody of the travel narrative, which was a very popular genre at the time. The protagonist, Lemuel Gulliver, is a surgeon on a ship. He travels to fictional countries and encounters strange civilizations, including the six-inch-tall Lilliputians and the research-obsessed Laputans. Each culture is a comedic representation of a human trait. In the last section of the book, Gulliver meets a group of intelligent horses who contrast with the absurd and foolish humans. Although Gulliver’s Travels is often read as a children’s book, it was written for adults. The fantasy civilizations represent social and political structures in Britain during Swift’s life. Gulliver’s Travels is one of the earliest examples of the English novel.
On March 15, 44 BCE, Julius Caesar a. was elected ruler of the Roman Republic b. gave himself absolute power c. was assassinated by his own senators
To the Romans, the “Ides of March” was a. a religious holiday b. a festival for the arts c. a deadline for debts
In Shakespeare’s play, the character who says “beware the Ides of March” is a. a Roman senator b. an oracle c. Caesar himself
Discussion/essay questions
Some other common superstitions include crossing fingers, knocking on wood, and avoiding 13th floors. Do you believe or practise any superstitions? Why or why not?
Transcript
On March 15, 44 BCE, Roman ruler Julius Caesar was stabbed in a meeting hall called the Curia of Pompey. Over 60 people participated in the assassination. Many of them were senators in Caesar’s own government. Caesar was originally an elected leader of the Roman Republic. Before his assassination, Caesar had given himself the power to rule for life. His government believed that killing him would protect Rome from tyranny. However, the incident actually caused Caesar’s adopted son, Augustus, to come to power as the first Roman emperor. March 15, the “Ides” or the middle of March, was important to the Romans because it was a deadline for debt payments. In Shakespeare’s playJulius Caesar, an oracle tells Caesar to “beware the Ides of March.” This line has led to the superstition that March 15 is an unlucky day.
In 1998, the small town of Talkeetna, Alaska held a mayoral election. But the residents quickly became when no one stepped up for the job. Instead of electing a candidate, the town voted a cat into office. The cat’s name was Stubbs, and he served as mayor for 19 years. His office was a general store in the centre of the town. During Stubbs’s term, Talkeetna became a tourist destination in Alaska. Visitors would come to take or have meetings with the mayor. After Stubbs’s death in 2017, the residents of Talkeetna continued the tradition and elected a kitten named Denali to fill the role.
Comprehension questions
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Discussion/essay questions
Do you participate in local elections in your town?
Transcript
In 1998, the small town of Talkeetna, Alaska held a mayoral election. But the residents quickly became frustrated when no one stepped up for the job. Instead of electing a human candidate, the town voted a cat into office. The cat’s name was Stubbs, and he served as mayor for 19 years. His office was a general store in the centre of the town. During Stubbs’s term, Talkeetna became a popular tourist destination in Alaska. Visitors would come to take photos or have meetings with the mayor. After Stubbs’s death in 2017, the residents of Talkeetna continued the tradition and elected a kitten named Denali to fill the role.
Many of Biden’s speeches since his election have mentioned uniting people of different backgrounds and political beliefs. He seems to believe that his country will be stronger if people can work together. Why is this an important message?
Transcript
Joe Biden is the 46th president of the United States. He was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania in November 1942. Biden first became involved in politics in 1970, when he was elected to a county council in Delaware. Two years later, he ran for the U.S. Senate as a candidate for the Democratic Party. However, before he was able to begin working as a senator, Biden experienced a tragedy. He lost his wife and daughter in a terrible car accident that also injured both of his sons, and he had to begin his career in the Senate while he was still grieving this loss. In 2008, Biden became the running mate of presidential candidate Barack Obama, and they were elected for two terms. Biden decided to run for the presidency himself in 2020. He campaigned against incumbent president Donald Trump and won the race in November of 2020. Two months later, Biden was officially inaugurated as the 46th U.S. president.
Kamala Harris has received much more media attention than most vice presidents have in the past. Why is her election so significant?
Transcript
Kamala Harris is an American politician, attorney, and the vice president-elect of the United States. She was born in 1964 in Oakland, California. In university, Harris studied political science and economics, before moving on to law school. Throughout her career in law, Harris worked her way up to becoming the attorney general of California. She held this position from 2010 until 2016, when she was elected to the U.S. Senate. In 2020, Harris started a campaign for the presidency, but she dropped out of the race early on because she didn’t have enough support. However, when her former rival Joe Biden became an official presidential candidate, he decided to pick Harris to be his running mate. Biden and Harris were elected in November 2020. This made Harris both the first woman and the first person of colour ever elected vice president in the U.S.
Although the civil rights movement ended a long time ago, racism did not. In recent years, a new movement called Black Lives Matter has gained international support. This movement aims to end racism and abuse of power within the police system. What are some of the major similarities and differences between this movement and the movement of the 1960s?
Transcript
John Lewis was an American activist and politician. He was born in 1940 in Troy, Alabama. When Lewis was growing up, segregation was still common in Southern states. As a teenager, Lewis was inspired by the speeches of activist Martin Luther King, Jr. While he was a student in college, Lewis became involved in the American civil rights movement, which aimed to gain equal rights and opportunities for Black people. He even helped to organize the March on Washington, one of the most important events of the entire movement. Lewis continued to advocate for the rights of Black Americans long after the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1964. He decided to run for office in the 1980s to help marginalized communities. Lewis was elected to Congress in 1986, and he served until his death in 2020.
