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2200 BCE
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece was a very important civilization that influenced the world. In Athens, Greece democracy required participation of the people. The greeks established the assembly and all could participate. -
150 BCE
Roman Empire
Rome is another ancient civilization that effected governments and the U.S.. Rome was first ruled by kings but eventually changed into a form of democracy. Citizens were allowed to vote for some representatives and if they didn't please the people they could be voted out. -
Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta is a document that King John of England was forced to sign. The Magna Carta was designed to force the King into ruling by the old English laws. It is said that the Magna Carta was the beginning of Constitutional Government for England. This document was writtrn by Archbishop Stephen Langton. Since this document was changing England's ways of ruling, it changed America's ways of ruling as well. This document helped change the world. -
Montesquieu
Montesquieu is famous for his articulation of the theory of separation of powers, which is implemented in many constitutions throughout the world. Seperation of [powers is a model for the governance of a state (or who controls the state). Under this model, the state is divided into branches, each with separate and independent powers and areas of responsibility so that the powers of one branch are not in conflict with the powers associated with the other branches. -
John Locke's Two Treaties of Government Published in Europe
This event occured all throughout the month of December. These treaties are often viewed as political philosophies. The theme of the first treaty is revolving around patriarchalism. The second treaties theme is the theory of political society. There were many different ways that these treaties were viewed, some unfavorable. Locke knew his work was dangerous, but he decided to go through with it anyway -
English Bill of Rights
This Bill of Rights is an act by England's Parliament. This document was passed on Decemeber 16, 1689. The Bill of Rights was pretty much a copy of the Declaration of Rights given to William and Mary. The document laid out certain rights for all Englishman. It was created in the response of threats to restore Catholicism in England. -
The Iroquois
The Iroquois are a historically powerful northeast Native American confederacy. Iroquois political and diplomatic decisions are made on the local level, and are based on assessments of community consensus. A central government that develops policy and implements it for the people at large is not the Iroquois model of government -
Thomas Paine
was an English-American political activist, philosopher, political theorist, and revolutionary. One of the Founding Fathers of the United States, he authored the two most influential pamphlets at the start of the American Revolution, and he inspired the rebels in 1776 to declare independence from Britain