From Subject to Citizen The Great Adventure
For thousands of years and today, too, history reveals a world of “Little Kings.” Whether they were called Pharaohs, Emperors, or royalty, their rule was nearly always the same: they were at the top, and everyone else was a subject— that’s a polite way to say, the king’s property!
The job of a subject was to build the king’s monuments, fight his wars, and follow every rule. In exchange, you got food and shelter, though if you stepped out of line, you were cancelled ancient-style. (You don’t wanna know!) There were exceptions; places where the people, the citizens, took on a much bigger role!
Roman citizens served the Emperor, fought battles, and paid taxes—and in return, they got benefits. Rome also offered citizenship to people from other lands, but they had to prove total loyalty to the empire.
Ancient Greeks expected participation. If you were a citizen, you couldn’t just sit at home and binge on stuff! You were expected to show up at public debates and vote on how to help the whole city.
Spartan warriors were trained to be incredibly strong and brave. While young men pledged their lives to defend the nation, their leaders took the same oath and fought right by their side.
Duties and Responsibilities of Citizenship
America’s Founding Fathers noticed that all of these systems fell apart when leaders grew greedy or citizens stopped caring. They realized that people were not meant to be owned as “subjects” or forced to obey a ruler; they are “citizens” who have the right to create their own government and are responsible for making it work. This made America a magnet for people from all over the world seeking basic rights and freedoms, such as speech and worship. This legacy, in turn, created a unique American model of citizenship, one based on two things: Duty and Responsibility.
Today, American citizenship involves specific duties and responsibilities. Duties include: paying taxes, serving on a jury when called, and (for men) registering for the Selective Service. Responsibilities include: voting, staying informed on public issues, and respecting the rights and opinions of others. Today, citizenship requires meeting specific legal responsibilities that prove a commitment to America’s freedom and ideals:
