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500
500 BC
The Greek citizens lived in self-governing cities. Free Male citizens of Athens would come together to talk about and debate issues. Decisions were made by consensus. Since the number of free citizens was really small, direct democracy could take place. Women, foreigners, enslaved people, and children were not recgonized as citizens. -
Period: 500 to
Historical Timeline
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527
527 AD
Byzantine Emperor Justinian proclaimed the divine right of kings. Ever since King David in the Old Testament was chosen by God’s prophet, monarchs claimed that they had the divine right to rule their people as absolute rulers. The monarchs claimed that they had been given their right to govern from God and were held responsible only to God. -
Feb 18, 1215
1215
In England, King John's nobles rebelled against him and forced him to sign the Magna Carta (Great Charter). Though it benefited the nobles most, it also created some simple legal rights: the rule of law, which said that the king was not above the law; and habeas corpus, which gave everyone the protection of the law and the right to a fair trial within a great amount of time. -
Feb 18, 1450
1450 (approximate)
Five distinct Aboriginal nations – the Mohawk, Seneca, Oneida, Cayuga, and Onondaga – created the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy. This may have been the fist federated government known in history. A Grand Council of 50 representatives from five nations met to make large importaint decisions based on consensus. -
1642-1646
At the end of the English Civil War, the parliamentary forced demoralization towards King Charles 1 and put an ent to the monarchy. Parliament was named the governing body of Britain. Later in the century a constitutional monarchy was established with the monarch ruling with parliament. -
Late 18th Century (1700’s)
The American Revolution (1775-1783) and the French Revolution (1789-1799) finished monarchical rule and has created republics with elected leaders in both countries. -
1849
Lord Elgin, the governor of a united Upper and Lower Canada, recgonized that the elected body was supreme. Responsible government was established. The executive branch became responsible to the elected Assemblies and followed the will of the people’s representatives. -
1867
Four provinces in British North America united under the British North America Act to create Confederation. The Act set out the structure of the federal system. The division of power was separated between federal and provincial governments. The structure of government modeled the British system with an elected House of Commons. An appointed Senate replaced the British House of Lords. -
1916
In 1916 the federal vote in Canada was given to white women over 21 years of age who were British subjects. -
1918
The federal vote was given to Canadian women in 1918. Women of colour, however, was not given the vote. First Nations women did not receive the ability to vote in federal elections until 1960. -
1929
Britain’s highest judicial authority, the Privy Council, invalidate the ruling by the Supreme Court of Canada. The Privy Council ruled the term “person” refers to both males and females. Women had the ability to vote for public office and to be given the position in government. The Famous Five fought for this ruling. -
1931
The Statute of Wetsminster was approved by the British Parliament. It gave the previouse colonies the power to self-govern and the ability to approve laws involving foreign affairs. The former colonies became equal members in the British Commonwealth. -
1982
The Constitution Act gave Canada the ability to applie changes to its own Constitution without having to apply to the British Parliament. The Act also included the Charter of Rights and Freedoms that outlined the rights of Canadian Citizens.