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Period: 350 to Apr 27, 700
Athenian Democracy 700-350BCE
Representatives from each Greek tribe made government decisions like we do now. Citizens were expected to take role in their city affairs and had rights like freedom of speech and to take part directly in the political arena. However, to be considered a citizen you must be a wealthy male over the age of 18, who’s parents and himself are from Greece. -
507
Greek Democracy Beginning (507 BCE)
Cleithens, an Athenian leader that introduced a political system called “demokratia” (AKA Rule by the people). This system included three Branches called Ekklesia, Boule and Dikasteria. The Ekklesia branch wrote laws and dictated foregn policy as a sovereign body. Boule was a council of people chosen to represent each of 10 tribes of Athenia. Dikasteria involved citizens trials in front of a group of jurors. -
509
Rome became a Republic (509BCE)
After the people rebelled against the king, Rome became a republic. The upper class called the “patricians” had all the power in the early days of the republic and rules over the common people called the “plebes”. Later, the plebes won more rights and helped create the Senate after a rebellion. Civis (or citizens) of Rome had to be free men. -
Apr 27, 1215
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta was a set of written laws that the monarchy’s power could not overpower, ultimately protecting the citizens. These laws stated that the king could not steal firewood from other lands, force widows to re-marry, force knights to pay to not have to guard the castle, confiscate horses and carts, as well as force villagers to build bridges over rivers. The Magna Carta is one of the influences of British Parliament which evolved from the signing to the early 1600s. -
Period: to
American Revolution
The American Revolution resulted in the first democracy that we know today. The system was split into three parts; Legislative, Executive and Judicial. The branches was a more stable form of government because if one branch became corrupt, the other two could overpower it. -
American Constitution was created
This Constitution stated that neither slaves nor women could vote. -
French Revolution
The French were inspired by the Americans new democracy. So much so that the middle class had overthrown King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette. However those who rose to power and gained freedom were corrupt. The head of the government sent their opposition to the guillotine. Later, the countries power fell to the military dictator Napoleon who attempted to take over Europe. -
Karl Marx outlined communism in the Communist Manifesto
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Slavery was abolished in USA
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Slavery was abolished in Russia
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Vladamir Lenin Rose to Power in Russia
Vladamir Lenin defeated the Russian Tzar. Lenin followed the Communist Manifesto although he adjusts it to benefit his own purposes and views. -
Women could vote in Canada
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Benito Mussolini became powerful in Italy
Benito Mussolini started a Fascist movement. Later, he formed a fascist government. By using the “Black Shirts” and abuse, he maintained order. -
Adolf Hitler gained power in Germany
Adolf Hitler was a glimpse of hope for Germans who were left in the rumble following WWI in a horrible economic state and promised to reverse this Hitler spread hatred against Jews, communists and other minority groups. Hitler fueled WWII and killed 55 million people throughout that time including 6 million Jews and 5 million “enemies of the state”. -
Emperor Hirohito rose to power in Japan
Japan was led into war by their Emperor Hirohito who tried to take over the pacific in WWII. The Japanese treated Koreans horribly. An example of this is the “Rape of Nanking” during WWII. -
Disapearance of Democracy (27BCE)
Democracy disappeared from earth at the end of the Roman Republic in 27 BCE. From this time throughout the Middle Ages, most European countries were run by Queens and/or Kings who ruled autocratic monarchies. The Divine Right of Kings was the belief that God had chosen Kings and Queens as rulers, therefore going against them was sinful. -
Joseph Stalin rose tp power in Russia
Joseph Stalin rose to power. Stalin killed between 20-30 million Russians due to purges, starvation, and harmful groups like the KGB and the Gulag. -
Japan became Nationalistic
Japan was forming into a nationalistic direction. They felt that they were being treated unfairly by the west and became a very aggressive military state. -
Declaration of Human Rights
After the awful events in WWII that completely destroyed any backbone of human rights, the United Nations was created. In 1948 the UN created the declaration of Human rights that stated that all people are “born free and equal and that a have the right to life, liberty and the security of person”.
