I. Introducción
4. Sistema de Evaluación del Desempeño
Political systems have come in many forms over the course of human history. The quest for a utopian form of government has run the gamut from monarchies to democracies. Ancient Rome and the Soviet Union are two examples separated by time and 5 place that show the similarities and differences in how
governments are run.
After the rule of a tyrannical king, the Romans formed a republic around 500 B.C. The senators of the republic worked together to make decisions regarding laws. This system worked 10 well until Rome began to expand and it became harder to control
the many lands Rome had conquered. Eventually military power became more important than laws. In 62 B.C. Julius Caesar pro
posed a triumvirate with himself, the general Pompey, and the rich banker Crassus. These three men ruled Rome through bribery,
15 fear, and other methods. When the triumvirate collapsed, Pompey and Caesar went to war. Caesar won and became “Dictator for Life” ; there was even talk o f making Caesar a king. Rome had gone from a republic to a totalitarian government. Caesar did make improvements for the people such as fixing the taxation system, making living conditions easier in the
conquered territories, and changing the calendar. Still, his 20 authoritarian rule was not appreciated, and seeing no other way
to oust him, a group of nobles murdered Caesar in the Senate on the Ides of March (March 15) in 44 B.C.
In the 1800s the world was changing due to the rise of indus
trialism. The milieu was ripe for new ideas. Many people lived 25 in slums and worked long hours in harsh conditions. Karl Marx
was the voice for this class. In 1867 he published Das Kapital, explaining the class struggle between the poor and the rich. The proletariat consisted of the workers who could gain power from the bourgeoisie, the property-owning capitalist class, only by 30 revolution. Marx felt this revolution would take place in
Germany or England where capitalism was well established, but it was Russia in 1917 that saw the start o f communism. Lenin and Trotsky led the fight for workers’ rights with Lenin becom
ing dictator of the newly named Union o f Soviet Socialist
35 Republics (USSR). After Lenin’s death in 1924, Stalin became dictator. Stalin began many reforms, but he also silenced all opposition. A totalitarian government was bom again.
The USSR was dissolved in 1991, and the ideological underpinnings of communism have been shaken. Capitalism continues to thrive worldwide, although workers still fight for fair wages and safe working conditions. Humankind continues its search for an ideal form of government.
Karl Marx
1 1 6
For each set, write the definition on the line next to the word to which it belongs. If you are unsure, return to the reading on page I 16, and underline any context clues you find. After you’ve made your predictions, check your answers against the W ord List on page 121. Place a checkmark in the box next to each word whose definition you missed. These are the words you’ll want to study closely.
Set One
the entire range resembling an ideal place a government of three rulers or officials a government that uses dictatorial control a state where power rests with the citizens
Predicting
□ 1. utopian (line 2)
□ 2. gamut (line 3)
□ 3. republic (line 8)
□ 4. triumvirate (line 13)
□ 5. totalitarian (line 17)
Set Two
environment foundations the working class to remove the property-owning class
ÜI 6. oust (line 2 1 ) ____________________________________________________________________
Ql 7. milieu (line 2 4 ) __________________________________________________________________
□ 8. proletariat (line 2 8 )_____________________________________________________ _________
G 9. bourgeoisie (line 2 9 ) ______________________________________________ _______________
G 10. underpinnings (line 3 7 ) ___________________________________________________________
Self-Tests
1 Circle the correct meaning of each vocabulary word.
1. utopian: idealized realized
2. republic: power with a dictator power with the people
3. bourgeoisie: middle class working class
4. triumvirate: rule by one rule by three
5. oust: to remove to add
6. gamut: range one and only
7. milieu: emptiness surroundings
8. proletariat: working class middle class
9. totalitarian: liberal authoritarian
10. underpinning: basis conclusion
C H A P T E R 19 P o l i t i c a l S c i e n c e 1 1 7
2
Answer each question by writing the vocabulary word on the line next to the example it best fits. Use each word once.Set One
V OCABUL AR Y L I ST
oust triumvirate utopian gamut totalitarian
1. Reginald told his bike racing team that he would order all the team’s clothing in the sizes he thought people needed, and he would decide which races people would go to. What kind of leader is h e ? _________________
2. The team decided to remove Reginald as its manager. What did it decide to do with h im ? _________________
3. Reginald cried and then laughed when the team told him he had to go. What can be said about his em otions?_________________
4. Reginald then joined with Karl and Miguel to be the leaders of a new team. What did the three of them fo rm ? _________________
5. The three men feel that they will never argue with each other and that their team will win every race. W hat is their outlook on life ? _________________
Set Two
VOC A BUL AR Y L I ST
bourgeoisie republic proletariat milieu underpinnings
6. Keri just bought a house by the lake. What group has she become a part of, according to Marxist th e o ry ?_________________
7. Matthew rents an apartment and works as a busboy. What group does he belong to, following M arxist theory?_________________
8. Keri and Matthew get to vote for the president o f their country. W hat kind o f political system does their country hav e?_________________
9. Matthew and Keri became friends when they met in the park at a soccer game. An avid interest in sports has cemented their friendship. W hat is a term for the basis of a relationship?
10. They both work in busy places: Keri in an office and Matthew at a restaurant. W hat is one’s environment called?_________________
1 1 8 C H A P T E R 19 P o l i t i c a l S c i e n c e
3
Complete the reading using each word once.VOCABUL AR Y L I ST underpinnings milieu
proletariat oust
triumvirate republic
utopian gamut
bourgeoisie totalitarian e»mpi