Democracy
What is a Democracy?
A democracy is a type of government in which all citizens share power. In Ancient Greece, the city-states had what is called a direct democracy. In a direct democracy, each citizen votes on every issue.
Are there other types of democracy?
Yes. A perfect example of another type of democracy is today in the United States. Here, government works through a representative democracy. In a representative democracy, citizens vote for an individual they think will make the best decisions.
What was a problem with democracy in Ancient Greece?
Many city-states struggled with democracy because citizens would be convinced to vote unwisely by a persuasive speaker. The assembly also changed their minds often about issues, making it difficult for solutions to be carried out.