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Jan 1, 1215
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta was the first document forced onto a King by his subjects to attempt to limit his powers by law and protect their privelages. It also made sure they had rights and could only be punished fairly through the law of the land. This charter was important because it led to the rule of constitutional land. It also later inspired the United States Consitution. -
Period: Jan 1, 1401 to
Haudenosaunee Confederacy
The Iroquois lived in the United States before it became the United States. The Constitution of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy was a model for the United States of America’s Constitution. There are many similarities between the two, such as the importance of unity and peace. America's constitution was strongly based on the Constitution of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. Without the Haudenosaunee Confederacy the American Constitution might be much different than it is. -
Period: Jan 1, 1450 to
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement where people became more educated. It is viewed as a bridge between the middle ages and the modern era. People became more aware of individualism and humanism. This made them want more liberalism. -
Period: Jan 1, 1517 to
Reformation
People started to oppose the church and how they had so much corrupt power. People also started to become more individualistic. Europe also came into contact with non-religious societies. The Reformation led to a change in Europe's political, economic, and social circumstances. -
Period: to
The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment is the source of critical ideas such as freedom, democracy, and reason. People were becoming more intelectual and sharing their ideas with each other. The Enlightenment led to market, capitalism, and science. -
Period: to
Industrial Revolution
Before the Industrial Revolution, most Europeans lived under the feudal system. The Industrial Revolution resulted in large changes to the social, ecomomic, and political aspects of citizens lives. Science became more accepted and more machinery was produced, private property was allowed to be owned, people demanded more individual and economic freedom, and self-interest and competition were allowed. The Industrial Revolution brought about all of the rights, freedom, and liberalism we have today -
American Revolution
Before the American revolution the United States was spilt into many British owned colonies. Everyone there was heavily taxed by the governenment & payed large tariffs on imports. After hearing ideas from the enlightenment the citizens did not want to be ruled by an abroad government. With the "Declaration of Independance" they declared themselves independent from Britian. They established a republican form of government. The American Revolution formulated the political philosophy we use now. -
French Revolution
Before the revolution France had a government ruled by the nobility and the members of the church. These people had more money & power than the rest of the citizens. Because the King & Queen spent so much money on things they wanted, France came into financial troubles. The government started taxing the citizens heavily. Citizens physically took down the monarchy and created "the Declaration of the Rights of Man". The French Revolution spread revolutionary ideas to the rest of the world. -
Period: to
Changes to class system
Due to industrialization a new class of people rose. They gained substantial wealth and challenged the aristocrats for power and position. They gained their wealth through self-interest, an important part of classical liberalism. -
Ancient Greek Democracy
508 BC
Athens if often thought as the first democracy even though only 12 % of the population had the right to participate in the democratic decision making process. Only males were allowed to attend assembly meetings and women, foreigners, and slaves were excluded from the process. They were allowed to keep slaves & women had minimal rights. They randomly drew names to decide who would be in the government. The Athens democracy started to outline what we have as democracy and liberalism now.