Classical LIberalism Timeline

Ancient Greek Democracy

507 BCE

Ancient Greece was ahead of its time as they were the first society to establish a democracy and were very humanistic. Greek mythology depicted humans occasionally at the same level as the gods, which lead them to look closer at human potential of individuals. These ideas were fundamentally valuable to the great thinkers of classical liberalism during the Renaissance time.

Magna Carta

Jun 15, 1215

Originally it was a charter signed by king John of England to make peace with the rebel barons. It promised protection of church rights, protection for the barons for illegal imprisonment, access to swift justice, limitations on feudal payments to the crown. Although it failed in 1215, it was reissued again in 1216 and again in 1217, 1225, and finally in 1297 it was confirmed as part of England's statute law. Magna Carta foundation of modern day individual rights and freedoms.

Renaissance

Mar 23, 1450

In 1453 many scholars fled to Europe from Constantinople taking Greek manuscripts with them. These ideas quickly spread and changed the thinking of the influential people in Europe. The liberal ideology that came from this time period laid the foundation of the Protestant reformation.

Haudenosaunee Confederacy

Mar 23, 1500

The constitution was created to make peace between the warring nations, divided powers of government, and created equal rights for all people. Some historians believe that the Haudenosaunne were one of the first peoples to establish the ideology of individual rights and freedoms.

The Protestant Reformation

Mar 23, 1517

This era contributed to individualism because people started to challenge the ideas of the Roman Catholic church. After the printing press was built, the bible was available to many more people who could interpret the bible in their own way and what it meant to them. This was a huge leap into freedom of religion that we enjoy today.

American Revolution

Apr 19, 1776

John locke was a major influence on the American revolution. His ideas lead to colonists declaring their independence from the british crown. The result was a new form of government where citizens made decisions, not a ruling monarch. Once Americans broke free from british rule, they gained more individual rights and freedoms.

French Revolution

May 5, 1789

As liberalism grew in France the common people revolted against the King and the class system eventually collapsed. On august 26, 1789 the Declaration of Rights of Man and of the Citizen was approved, which laid the foundation for individual rights and freedoms.

The Enlightenment

Mar 23, 1800

This was a time when the focus became more about the importance of individuals in a society. This resulted in greater opportunity for economic social and political movements towards the individual. This allowed much more freedom in all areas of peoples lives.

Industrial Revolution

Mar 23, 1801

Many new inventions were created in this time which led to a conversion of an agricultural and mercantile society to a new age industrial society. It had a huge impact on how people worked, did business and lived their lives. Competition and self interest grew as a result of entrepreneurship and trading.

Changes to Class System

Mar 23, 1900

This was a time in which a new class of wealth arose and professionals such as lawyers, factory owners, bankers became the nouveau riche (the newly wealthy). Not all professions had an increase in profit as the factory workers endured horrible working conditions and received insufficient wages. This was the beginning of economic freedom as we now it today which was driven by self-interest and competition.