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127
Disappearance of Democracy
27BCE After the end of the Roman Republic in 27 BCE democracy disappeared from the world. Throughout the Middle Ages most European countries were run by autocratic monarchies. Power was passed down to their heirs. It was believed that Kings and Queens were the chosen ones and to question their authority was to question god and to go against them was sinful. -
507
Athenian Democracy
-700-350BCE
-Ancient Greeks had the first Democracy. The system had three Branches. One had a sovereign body who wrote laws and dictated foreign policy. Another had a council of representatives from all ten of the Athenian tribes. The last involved the popular courts where citizens argued cases before a group of lottery selected jurors. -
509
Rome
509 BCE
Rome declared a republic after the people rebelled against the king. All power was in the hands of the patricians. Particians ruled over the common people or Plebes. Plebes rebelled and eventually won more rights like having a written law. Plebes helped create a new democratic institution known as the Senate however only patricians could be senators. -
Jan 1, 1215
Magna Carta
King John forced to sign the Magna Carta. Magna Carta outlined rules that restricted the power of the monarchy by the citizens. This is important because the king could no longer do whatever he wanted and this is what British Parliament evolved from. -
Modern Democracy
USA created the first true democracy. Americans could vote and the powers of the government were restricted so that no one branch could have too much power. If one branch did try to abuse its power, the other two could overrule it. -
French Revolution
The middle class of France rose to overthrow their monarchs. However, in the end those who championed liberty were corrupt. Leaders used to eliminate all opposition and then power fell to the military dictator, Napoleon, who tried to use his new power to take over all of Europe. -
Exceptions
1920s After WWI, Mussolini formed a fascist government in Italy.
Hitler became inspired and spewed racial hatred against the Jews and Communists and promised to reverse the effects of the Treaty of Versailles.
1917 Vladamir Lenin over threw the Russian Tzar by following Marx’s teachings. However he did adapt it to suit his own needs. After Stalin purges and starves between 20-30 million Russians. And he plummeted the world into the Cold War. -
United Nations
1948 United Nations created the declaration of Human Rights. UN pledged that human beings have a right to live and work without abuse from governments. That all people are “born free and equal and that all have the right to life, liberty and the security of person”.
