4th of July: Ancient Greek ideals that influenced US Independence (video)
Greek Americans have one more reason to be proud on the Fourth of July each year, because they don’t only celebrate America’s Independence Day, but also the great influence of Hellenism on the birth of the American nation, according to greekreporter.com.
The ideas and practices that led to the development of the American democratic republic after 1776 owe a debt to the ancient civilization of Greece. The Greek ideals on democracy and the Rule of Law, now provides people around the globe with a means of protecting their human rights and holding each other accountable as equals under the law.
All of America’s founding fathers, who were faced with the momentous task of creating a government of their choosing, had studied ancient Greek philosophers’ texts, drawing inspiration about morals, ethics and the sense of independence, all basic principles of a democratic society.
They looked to what they deemed the top philosophies and examples of government throughout world history. Along with the Roman model, the democratic model of ancient Greece’s system of self-government greatly influenced how the founding fathers set out to construct the new United States government.
US State and Greek polis
A U.S. state resembles the community structure of an ancient Greek polis or city-state. A polis was composed of an urban center and the land surrounding it, developments similar to that of the major cities and state capitals in the United States and the rural areas surrounding them.
In ancient Greece, several of the main city-states were Athens, Sparta, Corinth, Thebes, and Syracuse. These city-states acted independently for the most part. However, sometimes they engaged in a war against each other. They also banded together to defend Greece from foreign invaders.
Historian and professor, Carl J. Richard points out that from Herodotus and Plutarch, the founders learned the story of the Persian War, the near miraculous victory of the tiny Greek republics over the seemingly invincible Persian empire.
“From this tale, the founders learned that it was possible for a collection of small republics to defeat a centralized monarchical empire in a war for survival. This was a crucial lesson because the founders faced just such a power in the Revolutionary War,” he continues.
Rule of Law
All Greek city-states had sets of rules by which the people lived in observance and laws they were required to obey. In ancient Greece, the notion of Rule of Law came from philosopher Aristotle and his belief in natural law. He claimed the existence of a higher justice in nature—certain essential rights—that superseded the laws written by humans. Aristotle believed that people should align themselves with this natural law and govern by its ethics.
In the United States nowadays, the Rule of Law is a principle that ensures that all laws are publicly accessible, equally enforced, and independently judged and that they adhere to international human rights ethics. The Rule of Law is important because it allows all individuals and institutions (including the government itself) to be held accountable for their actions. By agreeing to follow the Rule of Law, the United States can prevent abuses of power by leaders who might act as if they are above the law.
F. A. Hayek, in The Constitution of Liberty, traces the very concept of the rule of law to the Greeks. But such should be expected. If the Greeks advocated natural law they would also advocate the rule of such law. This is what Aristotle meant when he argued: “it is more proper that the law should govern than any of the citizens.”
Written Constitution
Another significant ancient Greek concept that influenced the formation of the United States government was the written constitution. Aristotle, or possibly one of his students, compiled and recorded The Constitution of the Athenians and the laws of many other Greek city-states. Having a written constitution creates a common standard as to how people should behave and what rules they must follow. It also establishes clear processes by which people who break the law are judged and those who are harmed as a result can be compensated or given justice.
Like The Constitution of the Athenians, the U.S. Constitution is an important document. It lays out the government’s structure and how the checks and balances of power within it, relate to one another. The U.S. Constitution acts as the supreme law of the country and establishes individual citizens’ rights, such as the right to free speech or the right to a trial by a jury of one’s peers. Today, the U.S. Constitution is still regularly referenced in law as the supreme law of the land and is enforced by the U.S. Supreme Court, the country’s highest court.
Voting system
The original U.S. voting system had several similarities with that of Athens, where every citizen could speak his mind and vote at a large assembly that met to create laws. Citizens were elected to special councils to serve as organizers, decision-makers, and judges. However, the only people considered citizens in Athens were males over the age of 18. Women, slaves, and conquered peoples could not vote in the assembly or be chosen to serve on councils.
The founders of the United States similarly believed that only certain people should be permitted to vote and elect officials. They chose to structure the United States as a representative democracy. This means that citizens elect officials, such as senators and representatives, who vote on behalf of the citizens they represent in Congress. It also means that instead of each individual citizen voting for president directly, a body called the Electoral College officially casts the votes of each state for the president. As in Athens, when the United States was founded, only white, landowning men were allowed to vote. Over time, however, all U.S. citizens over the age of 18 who have not been convicted of a felony have gained the right to vote.
US Presidents praise Ancient Greek ideals
Successive US Presidents have payed moving tributes to the contribution ancient Greece made to the ideas that shaped American Independence and western democracy.
For his last foreign trip in November 2016, Barack Obama elected Athens. Standing on the Acropolis he said that with his visit he wanted to express his gratitude for all that Greece — “this small, great world” — has given to humanity through the ages.
“Our hearts have been moved by the tragedies of Aeschylus and Euripides. Our minds have been opened by the histories of Herodotus and Thucydides. Our understanding of the world and our place in it has been expanded by Socrates and Aristotle”, Obama said.
When he visited the Parthenon, “this symbol of western democracy,” he underlined that “our ideals about democracy our notions of citizenship, our notions of rule of law, began to develop here.”
Speaking in March 2019 in the White House, President Donald Trump noted that “the U.S and the whole western civilization has been shaped by the achievements of the Greek people.”
RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons License: CC-BY-SA
- 1) High diplomacy and geopolitics at Delphi Economic Forum IX in Greece
- 2) Greek Deputy Minister of Justice meets delegation from US Embassy in Athens
- 3) US Ambassador to Athens: Greece secures NATO readiness via Alexandroupolis
- 4) Greek Foreign Minister: We stand behind Montenegro's European perspective
28/03 18:41
Attica Region to channel 640 bln euros to services of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups
28/03 17:32
Greece to auction three-month T-bills on April 3, 2024 in a book entry form
28/03 15:46
Greece's Meteora Pyli Geopark added to UNESCO Global Geoparks network
28/03 14:44
IPTO announces framework agreement tender for undersea power cables in Greece
28/03 11:49
IOBE: Construction sector in Greece records robust growth and good prospects
26/03 23:51
St. Thomas Hellenic School honors 1821 and the Feast of the Annunciation in NJ
26/03 21:59
PM at Economic Club of Canada: Greece is an attractive investment destination
26/03 17:56
Greek State budget primary balance reaches a surplus of 3,378 million euros
26/03 11:45
Ancient Messene to get upgraded visitors' facilities after approval by Council
23/03 17:43
New requirements for 'Golden Visa' program to kick in on March 31
23/03 16:49
Athenians continue to head out of the Greek Capital for March 25 long weekend
23/03 16:47
Greek Parliament lights to be turned off for Earth Hour 8:30-9:30 pm
22/03 21:54
US President on Greek Independence Day: Alliance with Greece stronger than ever
22/03 19:51
High diplomacy and geopolitics at Delphi Economic Forum IX in Greece
22/03 19:32
Tax authorities enable payments with foreign bank cards in Greece
22/03 14:19
22/03 00:24
Greece ranks first on list of countries with fastest business environment progress
22/03 00:02
Hellenic Police acquires first electric VAN-type highway patrol vehicle
21/03 22:41
21/03 15:33
Unseen Museum presents "The stele of the twin babies" exhibition in Athens
20/03 22:48
Health Minister: 95% of Greek hospitals to perform afternoon surgeries
20/03 21:52
Greek Deputy Minister of Justice meets delegation from US Embassy in Athens
20/03 21:44
Greek Interior Minister to visit United States and Canada on postal vote
20/03 20:55
Philadelphia Icarians mark 85th Anniversary and organize Apokriatiko Dance
20/03 18:01
Development Minister: We continue the battle against high prices in Greece
19/03 22:28
President of the Hellenic Republic meets her Ethiopian counterpart in Athens
19/03 20:57
19/03 20:25
FinMIn: Moody’s analysis records significant progress in the Greek economy
19/03 11:15
Sector chiefs report: Good news for Greek tourism in 2024 at ITB Berlin
18/03 22:20
American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association honors Past Supreme President
16/03 13:01
Greek Deputy Foreign Μinister meets her Slovenian counterpart in Athens
16/03 12:56
Greek-Canadian Diaspora to welcome Greek Prime Minister to Toronto
16/03 11:28
Greek Migration Minister visits refugee hosting facilities in Kavala, Drama and Serres
15/03 21:50
Greek Minister announces conference on defence ecosystem in Athens from Lithuania
15/03 13:45
PM: More than 80 hospitals and 156 health centres being upgraded in Greece
15/03 12:55
Piraeus Port and Genoa Chambers of Commerce ink memorandum of cooperation
14/03 23:43
President of Hellenic Republic meets Prime Minister of Slovakia in Bratislava
14/03 22:58
American Express report highlights Global Travel Trends during 2024
14/03 22:52
Four hospitals in Attica Region already organizing afternoon surgical procedures
14/03 22:49
US Ambassador to Athens: More flights from the United States to Greece and Thessaloniki
14/03 22:43
Greek archaeologists discover ten ancient shipwrecks off Aegean island of Kasos
14/03 19:32
No new intubations for Covid-19 recorded in Greece for the first time
14/03 18:36
Extra road safety measures adopted for Greek pre-lent carnival and Clean Monday
14/03 14:48
14/03 12:54
Electric buses to be deployed on the streets of Athens and Thessaloniki by May
13/03 22:23
13/03 20:11
Prices of basic lenten products either lower or equal to last year's in Greece
13/03 19:15
US Ambassador to Athens: Greece secures NATO readiness via Alexandroupolis
13/03 17:19
13/03 12:26
Greece shows new costumes for revamped Olympic Flame-lighting ceremony
12/03 22:46
Epirotes Society of Philadelphia ‘Omonia’ organized 16th Annual ‘Tsipourovradia’
12/03 21:38
The President of the Hellenic Republic to visit Slovakia on March 13-15
12/03 20:29
First afternoon surgeries in Greece kick off at Papageorgiou Hospital in Thessaloniki
11/03 23:58
Greek Foreign Minister: We stand behind Montenegro's European perspective
11/03 23:47
Visa Express for Turkish citizens to commence on five Greek islands in March
11/03 19:40
11/03 18:49
Microsoft Data Center construction kicks off in Spata next to Athens Airport
11/03 17:53
Dodecanese Federation marked 76th Anniversary of Unification with Greece
09/03 22:23
08/03 14:27
Prime Minister: Radical change in Greek education and a brave reform for growth
08/03 14:24
Traffic restrictions expected in Athens mid-morning to evening on Friday due to protests
08/03 14:24
Applications to out-of-court settlement more than doubled in Greece in February
08/03 13:18
Metro station 'Maniatika' near Piraeus Port to be closed on Saturday and Sunday
07/03 14:12
Athens wins World Travel Award 2024 as the top city-break destination in Europe
06/03 22:51
WTTC data show Greece and Portugal lead league for growth in tourist arrivals
06/03 20:28
Greek Tourism Minister at ITB: 2024 will be another excellent year for sector
06/03 19:47
Greek Foreign Minister to meet UAE Minister of Industry and Technology on Friday
06/03 18:43
European Union actions of 274m euros to support cultural heritage in Greece
06/03 16:37
'Odontotos' rack railway temporarily stopped until landslides issue is resolved
06/03 14:40
Minister: Bringing about the return of Greeks abroad 'a moral duty'
05/03 14:28
Archdiocese of America Eparchial Synod to meet on March 14-17 in Florida
05/03 14:21
05/03 14:11
ITB BERLIN 2024 opens with excellent bookings after global rise in travel in 2023
05/03 12:24
Greek PM at Athens supermarket: Consumers 'can already see lower prices on the shelf'
04/03 22:02
Greek Health Minister: Afternoon surgeries at state hospitals to begin shortly
04/03 21:47
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Whitestone Community marks 49th Anniversary
04/03 20:27
Labor chief: Greece to train 500,000 workers in digital, green skills by 2025
04/03 19:44
Foreign Ministry to organize event on 'Women, Peace, and Security' on Friday
04/03 15:12
Athens Riviera | The summer experience with Athens as a background
29/02 22:54
Consumers to see price cuts up to 18.1% in 3,000 Greek supermarket products as of Friday
29/02 21:44
Greece and Germany set up Working Group on shipping cooperation
29/02 21:30
Wyndham Rewards’ Member Month offers 5 weeks of deals, discounts, and bonus points
29/02 21:03
Temple of Poseidon at Sounion near Athens to get new lighting system
29/02 21:02
29/02 20:47
Greece is represented by 60 firms at GULFOOD 2024 exhibition
29/02 19:58
Greek government gives 1+1 month extension for cash register-integrated POS terminals
29/02 19:49
Archangel Michael Church Dance Program shines at Folk Dance Festival in SF
29/02 15:39
'Renovate-rent' programme to be launched, Minister tells Greek Parliament
29/02 12:39
Rio-Antirrio ferry line in central Greece closed due to strong winds
28/02 21:34
Weather with heavy rain and storms in Greece as of Sunday night
28/02 17:31
CEO: The goal is for PPC to become a leading player in Southeast Europe
28/02 17:04
New Wyndham Hotels Market Managing Director of Central and Eastern Europe
28/02 12:21
Minister: Transactions with the Greek State will be further simplified in 2024
28/02 11:57
27/02 17:25
UN Tourism hails Saudi Arabia's historic milestone of 100 million tourists
27/02 15:00
Greek Prime Minister: Relations with Armenia can become even more productive
27/02 14:26
Wyndham: New growth cycle in Greece for the largest hotel chain franchise in the world
27/02 13:15
Price cuts of up to 15% in important product categories in Greece after March 1
27/02 12:46
Athens taxi drivers' protest rally in progress from Athinon avenue to Messogion
26/02 18:30
Annual Summit of Women Political Leaders (WPL) to be held in Athens in April
Attica Region to channel 640 bln euros to services of vulnerable and disadvantaged groups
Greece to auction three-month T-bills on April 3, 2024 in a book entry form
IPTO announces framework agreement tender for undersea power cables in Greece
Ancient Messene to get upgraded visitors' facilities after approval by Council
IOBE: Construction sector in Greece records robust growth and good prospects
Greece's Meteora Pyli Geopark added to UNESCO Global Geoparks network
PM at Economic Club of Canada: Greece is an attractive investment destination
New requirements for 'Golden Visa' program to kick in on March 31
Greek State budget primary balance reaches a surplus of 3,378 million euros
St. Thomas Hellenic School honors 1821 and the Feast of the Annunciation in NJ
AEGEAN concludes transfer of stake in Animawings to Memento Group
EXPOTROF-The Greek Fine Food Exhibition opens near Athens on Saturday
Parnithos Avenue closed down to traffic from the cable car area due to snow
Greek Tourism Minister in Belgrade for International Exhibition
Price cuts of up to 15% in important product categories in Greece after March 1
Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Diplomacy on business missions agenda
Greek supermarkets record rise in value and decline in volume of FMCG sales
Greek Prime Minister on official visit to India as of Wednesday
Greek Deputy Transport Minister flies in first test seaplane flight from Lavrio port
EU forecasts Greece 2024 growth at 2.3%, Eurozone’s fourth-highest rate
Weather with heavy rain and storms in Greece as of Sunday night
Athens streets reopen after private university protest rally and minor incidents
Flights to and from Heraklion airport in Crete resume on Saturday