A Modern-Day Tyrant

Contrary to the use of the term in present day, Greek tyrants were monarchs who enjoyed an oppressive, one-man rule. The tyrant usually rose to power because of his military ability and support from the lower class but the term simply referenced someone who obtained executive power through unconventional means. Early tyrants arose from the underclasses who were pitted against the aristocrats and hereditary succession. For example, populist coups commonly produced tyrants who observed approval during the initial part of their regime. One of the most fondly remembered Athenian tyrants was Peisistratos. He constructed grand new buildings, improved agriculture, specifically olives, and focused on public works and urban centers. It was Peisistrato’s successors, namely his sons, and the simultaneous growth of Athenian democracy that produced the negative connotation of the title “tyrant” that is used today.

Greg Bailey, in his article, “Our Very Own George III,” likens President Trump to the tyrannical King George III. Throughout the article he includes a multitude of reasons the founding fathers used to support their case for independence from tyrannical British rule. Bailey then explains the similarities between the actions of President Trump and King George III. Among the list of “a long train of abuses and usurpations,” Bailey highlights Trump’s controversial political decisions. Quoting the Declaration of Independence, Bailey argues that President Trump and King George III are one in the same: “A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, [who] is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.”

Bailey’s employment of the word “tyrant” is very similar to the Greek use of the term. The pre-democratic definition focuses on an unconventional rise to power. President Trump is not a career politician. His transformation from businessman to politico was anything but conventional. Ancient tyrants also maintained the absolute power of a single ruler. While the American political system does employ a structure of checks and balances, the President has final say over a majority of issues, especially if his political party aligns with the majority in Congress. President Trump’s rise in popularity can, too, be compared to that of a Greek tyrant. While he did not gain political favor from the underclass, he did present a specific vision of America that embodied the politics of hope. He focused on strengthening the country from within, thus attracting the support of those who felt as if they didn’t have a political voice. Overall, Bailey’s definition of “tyrant” aligns with that of the ancient term. Aptly, the characterization is utilized to describe one who has used unconventional means to achieve great power.

Work Cited

Bailey, Greg. “Our Very Own George III.” History News Network, 2 Sept. 2018,

historynewsnetwork.org/article/169820.

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