This is lesson #1 in the text unit series for the book The Democratic Process by Mark Friedman. Students will be introduced to the concept of democratic principles and how ancient Greece and Rome influenced the American political process. Students will preview content specific vocabulary and identify the meaning of these words through context clues. Additionally, students will conduct a close read to locate textual evidence indicating how ancient Greece and Rome influenced our current U.S. political system.

The unit will prepare students to understand Greek and Roman influences on democracy in the United States, identify individual rights and freedoms, determine the difference between protected and unprotected rights, examine the rule of law, and evaluate the relevance of modern-day government. The activities in the unit will allow students the opportunity to participate in close reading, annotate text, and collaborate on research projects to gain a deeper understanding of democracy, government, and the rule of law.

This resource uses a book that is on the Florida Department of Education's reading list. This book is not provided with this resource.