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Period: 2200 BCE to 130 BCE
Ancient Greece
In Ancient Greece, people were required to participate, which made them have responsibilities. The Greeks were the very first ones to have democracy roots, which have been now used for hundreds of years. The Greeks established an Assembly, a body of citizens that made decisions and voted on issues that affected everyone. The decisions have to be taken by the Council, which gave permission, for the government to operate. -
Period: 500 BCE to 476 BCE
Romans
Romans came after the mighty Greeks. They were the first ones to show a reprensative government. Rome was originally ruled by kings, but changed to a democracy. Citizens were allowed to vote some of their representatives, and if they did not meet the people's standardards, they were voted out and replaced. -
Period: 689 to 689
John Locke
Under democracy rule, individual rights are very essential to what it really means to have a democracy government. In the U.S. Constitution, under the Bil of Rights, it is written the rights of all citizens. John Locke was an English philosopher, that in 689 CE, he Publisher a book about the natural lights of ever Human being. Locke's ideas helped influenced how de vida individual lights today. -
Period: 1100 to 1100
Iroquois
The Iroquois was a Native American tribe, that had roots of what is now known as democracy. They used to work in alliance to work toward a common goal. The U.S. now uses the same concept, dividing powers between the state's and the national government. Each government has it's own constitution and makes it's own laws. However, that all follow the United States Consitution. -
Period: 1215 to 1215
Magna Carta
The English wrote the Magna Carta, which helped to balance out power from the Monarchy. It stated that the King must follow and obey all the laws and when dealing with his subjects he had to follow the "law of the land" and not do whatever he pleased. The Magna Carta was the first document to demonstrate that even governments should be accountable to the law. -
Period: to
Petition of Right
The Petition of Right has four principles: no taxation without the consent of the Parliament, no imprisonment without cause, no quartering of soldiers on subjects, and no martial law in peacetime. This document was actually brought out by King Cahrles I, which many believed he exceeded his power, and the document prohibited the King from infringing. -
Period: to
Montesquieu
Montesquieu was a French thinker. He wrote that power must be divided in government to prevent one part from becoming too powerful. The Founding Founders of the United States were influenced by Montesquieu when they designed the government. It is still used today, it is divided into three parts, the Executive, the Legislative, and the Judicial. -
Period: to
Thomas Paine
Thomas Paine was a writer, which bravely challenged the English rule. He advocated independence for the American colonies from Britain. Thomas's way of writing was an attention grabber, that helped many people to not feel afraid to rebel against the Bristish rule. His copies sold more than 500,000 copies. -
Period: to
Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights is the first 10 Amendments to the Constitution. In the document it guarantees civil rights and liberties to each individual. Like Freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of press. Nobody can take away those rights, not even the Federal Government, the people, or the states.