Name ________________
Forms of Government
Using the above terms and definitions as a guide answer the following questions.
Which form of government is the most free? How so?
Which form of government is the least free? How so?
Which form of government fosters the greatest equality among citizens? How so?
Which form of government creates the safest environment for citizens? How so?
Which form of government creates the least safe environment for citizens? How so?
Which form of government fosters the greatest inequality among citizens? How so?
Which form of government would you like to live under the most, why?
Which form of government would you least like to live under, why?
dic·ta·tor·ship
noun
1.
a country,
government, or the form of government in which absolute
power is exercised by a dictator.
2.
absolute, imperious, or overbearing
power or control.
3.
the office or position held by a dictator.
mon·ar·chy
noun,
plural -chies.
1.
a state or nation in which the
supreme power is actually or nominally lodged in a monarch. Compare absolute monarchy, limited monarchy.
2.
supreme power or sovereignty held by
a single person.
Origin:
1300–50; Middle English monarchie < Late Latin monarchia < Greek monarchía. See monarch, -y3
1300–50; Middle English monarchie < Late Latin monarchia < Greek monarchía. See monarch, -y3
de·moc·ra·cy
noun, plural -cies.
1.
government by the people; a form of
government in which the supreme power is vested in
the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a
free electoral system.
2.
a state having such a form of
government: The United States and Canada are democracies.
3.
a state of society characterized by
formal equality of rights and privileges.
4.
political or social equality; democratic spirit.
5.
the common people of a community as distinguished from any
privileged class; the common people with respect to their political power.
Origin:
1525–35; < Middle French démocratie < Late Latin dēmocratia < Greek dēmokratía popular government, equivalent to dēmo- demo- + -kratia -cracy
1525–35; < Middle French démocratie < Late Latin dēmocratia < Greek dēmokratía popular government, equivalent to dēmo- demo- + -kratia -cracy
ol·i·gar·chy
noun,
plural -chies.
1.
a form of government in which all
power is vested in a few persons or in a dominant class or clique; government
by the few.
2.
3.
the persons or class so ruling.
re·pub·lic
noun
1.
a state in which the
supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised
by representatives chosen directly or indirectly by them.
2.
any body of persons viewed as
a commonwealth.
3.
a state in which the head of
government is not a monarch or other hereditary head of state.
4.
( initial capital letter 
) any of the five periods of republican
government in France. Compare First Republic, Second Republic, Third Republic, Fourth Republic, Fifth Republic.
) any of the five periods of republican
government in France. Compare First Republic, Second Republic, Third Republic, Fourth Republic, Fifth Republic.
5.
( initial capital letter,
italics 
) a philosophical dialogue (4th century b.c.)
by Plato dealing with the composition and structure of the ideal state.
) a philosophical dialogue (4th century b.c.)
by Plato dealing with the composition and structure of the ideal state.
Origin:
1595–1605; < French république, Middle French < Latin rēs pūblica, equivalent to rēs thing, entity + pūblica public
1595–1605; < French république, Middle French < Latin rēs pūblica, equivalent to rēs thing, entity + pūblica public
the·oc·ra·cy
noun, plural -cies.
1.
a form of government in which God
or a deity is recognized as the supreme civil ruler, the God's or deity's laws
being interpreted by the ecclesiastical authorities.
2.
a system of government by priests
claiming a divine commission.
3.
a commonwealth or state under such a
form or system of government.
an·ar·chy
noun
1.
a state of society without government
or law.
2.
political and social disorder due to
the absence of governmental control: The death of the king was
followed by a year of anarchy.
3.
a theory that regards the absence of
all direct or coercive government as a political ideal and that proposes the
cooperative and voluntary association of individuals and groups as the
principal mode of organized society.
4.
Origin:
1530–40; (< Middle French anarchie or Medieval Latin anarchia ) < Greek, anarchía lawlessness, literally, lack of a leader, equivalent to ánarch ( os ) leaderless ( an- an-1 + arch ( ós ) leader + -os adj. suffix) + -ia -y
1530–40; (< Middle French anarchie or Medieval Latin anarchia ) < Greek, anarchía lawlessness, literally, lack of a leader, equivalent to ánarch ( os ) leaderless ( an- an-1 + arch ( ós ) leader + -os adj. suffix) + -ia -y
so·cial·ism
noun
1.
a theory or system of social organization that advocates the
vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production
and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole.
2.
procedure or practice in
accordance with this theory.
3.
(in Marxist theory) the stage following
capitalism in the transition of a
society to communism, characterized by the imperfect implementation of
collectivist principles.
cap·i·tal·ism
noun
an economic system in which investment
in and ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange of
wealth is made and maintained by private individuals or corporations,
especially as contrasted to cooperatively or state-owned means of wealth.
1854, "condition of having
capital;" from capital +
-ism. Meaning
"political/economic system which encourages capitalists" is recorded
by 1877.
com·mu·nism
noun
1.
a theory or system of social organization based on the holding of
all property in common, actual ownership being ascribed to the community as a whole or to the state.
2.
( often initial capital letter 
) a system of social organization in which all
economic and social activity is controlled by a totalitarian state dominated by
a single and self-perpetuating political party.
) a system of social organization in which all
economic and social activity is controlled by a totalitarian state dominated by
a single and self-perpetuating political party.
Name _________________
Valentine’s Day is a mix of what cultures?
What is one legend/story about Saint Valentines?
What is one version of why Valentine’s Day falls when it does?
When did Valentine’s Day become popular in Britain?
How did postage changes affect Valentine culture?
How many Valentine’s Cards are exchanged each year?
What are other countries that celebrate Valentine’s Day?
Every February 14, across the United States and in other
places around the world, candy, flowers and gifts are exchanged between loved
ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint, and
where did these traditions come from? Find out about the history of this
centuries-old holiday, from ancient Roman rituals to the customs of Victorian
England.
The
history of Valentine's Day — and its patron saint — is shrouded in mystery. But
we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day,
as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman
tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with
this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different
saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred.
One legend contends
that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome.
When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than
those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men — his crop of
potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied
Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When
Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.
Other stories suggest
that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape
harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.
According to one
legend, Valentine actually sent the first "valentine" greeting
himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a
young girl — who may have been his jailor's daughter — who visited him during his
confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which
he signed "From your Valentine," an expression that is still in use
today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories
certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly,
romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was
one of the most popular saints in England and France.
While some believe
that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the
anniversary of Valentine's death or burial — which probably occurred around 270
A.D — others claim that the Christian church may have decided to celebrate
Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to
"christianize" celebrations of the pagan Lupercalia festival. In ancient Rome, February was
the official beginning of spring and was considered a time for purification.
Houses were ritually cleansed by sweeping them out and then sprinkling salt and
a type of wheat called spelt throughout their interiors. Lupercalia, which
began at the ides of February, February 15, was a fertility festival dedicated
to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders
Romulus and Remus.
To begin the
festival, members of the Luperci, an order of Roman priests, would gather at
the sacred cave where the infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were
believed to have been cared for by a she-wolf or lupa. The priests would then
sacrifice a goat, for fertility, and a dog, for purification.
The boys then sliced
the goat's hide into strips, dipped them in the sacrificial blood and took to
the streets, gently slapping both women and fields of crops with the goathide
strips. Far from being fearful, Roman women welcomed being touched with the
hides because it was believed the strips would make them more fertile in the
coming year. Later in the day, according to legend, all the young women in the
city would place their names in a big urn. The city's bachelors would then each
choose a name out of the urn and become paired for the year with his chosen
woman. These matches often ended in marriage. Pope Gelasius declared February
14 St. Valentine's Day around 498 A.D. The Roman "lottery" system for
romantic pairing was deemed un-Christian and outlawed. Later, during the Middle
Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14 was the
beginning of birds' mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of
February — Valentine's Day — should be a day for romance. The oldest known
valentine still in existence today was a poem written by Charles, Duke of
Orleans to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following
his capture at the Battle of
Agincourt. The greeting, which was written in 1415, is part of the
manuscript collection of the British Library in London, England. Several years
later, it is believed that King Henry V hired a writer
named John Lydgate to compose a valentine note to Catherine of Valois.
In Great Britain,
Valentine's Day began to be popularly celebrated around the seventeenth
century. By the middle of the eighteenth century, it was common for friends and
lovers in all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or
handwritten notes. By the end of the century, printed cards began to replace
written letters due to improvements in printing technology. Ready-made cards
were an easy way for people to express their emotions in a time when direct
expression of one's feelings was discouraged. Cheaper postage rates also
contributed to an increase in the popularity of sending Valentine's Day
greetings. Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the
early 1700s. In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland began to sell the first mass-produced
valentines in America.
According to the
Greeting Card Association, an estimated one billion valentine cards are sent
each year, making Valentine's Day the second largest card-sending holiday of
the year. (An estimated 2.6 billion cards are sent for Christmas.)
Approximately 85
percent of all valentines are purchased by women. In addition to the United
States, Valentine's Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United
Kingdom, France, and Australia.
Valentine greetings
were popular as far back as the Middle Ages (written Valentine's didn't begin
to appear until after 1400), and the oldest known Valentine card is on display
at the British Museum. The first commercial Valentine's Day greeting cards
produced in the U.S. were created in the 1840s by Esther A. Howland. Howland,
known as the Mother of the Valentine, made elaborate creations with real lace,
ribbons and colorful pictures known as "scrap."
141 million Valentine's Day cards are
exchanged annually, making Valentine's Day the second-most popular
greeting-card-giving occasion. (This total excludes packaged kids valentines
for classroom exchanges.) (Source: Hallmark research)
Over 50 percent of all Valentine's Day cards are purchased in
the six days prior to the observance, making Valentine's Day a procrastinator's
delight. (Source: Hallmark research)
Research reveals that
more than half of the U.S. population celebrates Valentine's Day by purchasing
a greeting card. (Source: Hallmark research)
Flowers
The combined
wholesale value of domestically produced cut flowers in 2005 for all
flower-producing operations with $100,000 or more in sales was $397 million.
Among states, California was the leading producer, alone accounting for nearly
three-quarters of this amount ($289 million).
The combined
wholesale value of domestically produced cut roses in 2005 for all operations
with $100,000 or more in sales was $39 million. Among all types of cut
flowers, roses were third in receipts ($39 million)to lilies ($76.9 million)
and tulips ($39.1 million).
There were 21,667
florists nationwide in 2004. These businesses employed 109,915 people.
There were 28,772
jewelry stores in the United States in 2004. Jewelry stores offer engagement,
wedding and other rings to lovers of all ages. In February 2006, these stores
sold $2.6 billion worth of merchandise. (This figure has not been adjusted for
seasonal variation, holiday or trading day differences or price changes). The
merchandise at these locations could well have been produced at one of the
nation's 1,864 jewelry manufacturing establishments. The manufacture of jewelry
was an $9 billion industry in 2004.
904: The number of dating service establishments
nationwide as of 2002. These establishments, which include Internet dating services,
employed nearly 4,300 people and pulled in $489 million in revenues.
2.2 million marriages take place in the United States annually.
That breaks down to more than 6,000 a day.
112,185 marriages were performed in Nevada during 2008. So
many couples "tie the knot" in the Silver State that it ranked fourth
nationally in marriages, even though it's total population that year among
states was 35th.
The estimated U.S.
median ages at first marriage for women and men are 25.9 and 27.6
respectively, in 2008. The age for women rose 4.2 years in the last three
decades. The age for men at first marriage is up 3.6 years.
Men and women in
northeastern states generally have a higher median age at first marriage than
the national average. In Massachusetts,
for example, women were a median of 27.4 years old and men 29.1 years of age at
first marriage. States where people typically marry young include Utah, where women were a
median of 21.9 years and men, 23.9 years.
57% and 60% of American women and men, respectively, are
15 or older and currently married (includes those who are separated).
70%: The percentage of men and women ages 30 to
34 in 2008 who had been married at some point in their lives - either currently
or formerly.
4.9 million opposite-sex cohabitating couples maintained
households in 2005. These couples comprised 4.3 percent of all households.
1,241: The number of locations producing chocolate
and cocoa products in 2004. These establishments employed 43,322 people. California led the nation
in the number of such establishments with 136, followed by Pennsylvania with 122.
(Source:http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/cbptotal.html)
515 locations produced nonchocolate confectionary
products in 2004. These establishments employed 22,234 people.
The total value of
shipments in 2004 for firms producing chocolate and cocoa products was $13.9
billion. Nonchocolate confectionery product manufacturing, meanwhile, was a
$5.7 billion industry.
3,467 Number of confectionery and nut stores in the
United States in 2004. Often referred to as candy stores, they are among the
best sources of sweets for Valentine's Day.
The per capita
consumption of candy by Americans in 2005 was 25.7 pounds. Candy
consumption has actually declined over the last few years; in 1997, each
American gobbled or savored more than 27 pounds of candy a year.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.