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507 BCE
Ancient Greek Democracy
The ancient Greeks were the first people to develop a form of democracy. Though it was restricted to only certain citizens, the idea of the people being directly involved in governance suggested that individual people should have some say in the laws that affect them. This concept stimulated ideas in philosophers in the Renaissance and Enlightenment eras. Though most democratic nations employ representative rather than direct democracy, this form of government is still attributed to the Greeks. -
1215
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta was the first example of the Rule of Law. A council of 25 English barons drafted this document and forced King John of England to sign in an attempt to stop tyranny and ensure the rights of their person. This is significant because it changed the idea that kings were above the law; now all people had to follow the same rules. In a modern society, this idea is reflected in many constitutions across the globe, and ensures that the rights of the individual are respected. -
1500
Renaissance (14-16th century)
The Renaissance saw a massive new interest in the importance of the individual in stark contrast with the proceeding ideas of feudalism, and blind faith in the church. Advancements in science took off as scientists and philosophers like Nicolas Copernicus, and Galileo began to consider the value in critical thinking and challenging convention. The act of challenging "fact" inspired others to reconsider their beliefs about an individuals role in society. -
1520
Haudenosaunee Confederacy (1400 to 1776)
The Haudenosaunee Confederacy was an oral agreement between six aboriginal groups. It pioneered the distribution of power via a branched government, the establishments of individual rights including freedom of speech, and religion, and for the first time, equal participation from all citizens. There are many similarities between these and the rights documented in the American Constitution, supposedly because the Founding Fathers were inspired by the Haudenosaunee people. -
1580
Reformation (1517-1648)
Kick-started by Martin Luther, the Protestant Reformation was a time of religious controversy. Prior to this period, any connection to religion was done through the church, which held the highest authority in Christian society. But Martin Luther advocated that each person should be able to read the Bible (among other things) on their own, thus helping to solidify practice of individual contemplation on theology, something never before seen in the West. -
The Enlightenment (1800 century)
The Enlightenment was a time of great intellectual curiosity with philosophers like Adam Smith, Montesquieu, Rousseau, and others contemplating politics, social structures, and the nature of mankind. They believed that logic and reason were often of more value than faith and that the predominant beliefs of the day should be challenged critically. This time also saw the rise of Humanists who embraced the idea that art could glorify humanity alongside faith. This spurred individualist social order -
American Revolution (1775-1783)
The American people rising up against the rule of the British monarchy was monumental in that it resulted in one of the first modern implementations of the ideas explored by the philosophers of the era. Ideas like freedom of speech, a government for the people by the people, and property rights, found their way into the American Constitution. Other ideas like responsible government, and the people's right to abolish a corrupt government, had been debated long before, but now became tangible. -
French Revolution (1789-1799)
Similar in principle to the American Revolution, the French Revolution sought to create a just government to protect the rights of all people. It was becoming more apparent to the French that all people were born with individual rights, like the freedom to own property and more, and thus they too created a Constitution to ensure these rights. They also included the separation of power within their new government, as the United States did. -
Industrial Revolution (1750-1900)
With increased industrialization, this time saw the birth of capitalism, which meant no government interference in business. This system served to protect the economic rights of the individual, allowing a free market, competition, and self-interest. Because any labor laws would be considered infringing on individual rights, there was little protection for workers. This approach, unfortunately, also resulted in an extreme wealth disparity, leaving some very rich and others impoverished. -
Period: to
Changes In Class System
Throughout much of the Industrial Revolution and before, the lives of the average person were drastically changed. As industrialization took over, and more people moved into the cities, opportunities for individuals to grow their wealth in areas like retail, engineering, and business ownership increased. This fluctuation resulted in a class of newly wealthy people called the "nouveau riche." The surge in capitalism also led to an opposing population of "paupers" (poor people).
