The Evolution of Democracy

Ancient Greeks

507

Athenian leader Cleisthens introduced a system of political reforms he called “demokratia” or rule by the people. This system had three branches... Ekklesia: sovereign body who wrote laws and dictated foreign policy
Boule: representatives from 10 athenian tribes
Dikasteria:Courts where citizens argued cases
*Decisions were therfore made by the representatives of the Greek Tribes. Citizens needed to be 18, male, born in Greece, parents born in Greece, own land.

Rome

509

Noble people rebelled against the kind (he was sent away). All power laid in the hands of the patricians. The patricicans ruled over the Plebs. The Plebes rebelled and won more rights which included a written law. They also helped create a democratic senate. Only patricians could be in the senate but the people had a say in this republic.
*Roman citizens were free males. The republic fell with the establishment of the Roman Empire in 27 BCE.

Magna Carta

Apr 27, 1215

In 1215 King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta. The Magna Carta outlined provisions where the monarchy would be restricted and the rights of the citizens would be safeguarded.
Some examples of restrictions placed on the king...
-steal firewood from other lands
This was significant because the king could no longer do whatever he wanted. This was a seed in which British parliament would evolve from.

American Revolution

Apr 28, 1775

created the first true democracy
Americans could vote and the powers of the government were restricted so that no one branch could have too much power
If one branch did try to abuse its power, the other two could over ride it. The us did not give women the right to vote until 1919 and also maxe provisions for slaves.

French Revolution

Apr 28, 1789

Rooted in the spirit of Democracy
The middle class of France rose to overthrow their monarch King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette (both were sent to the guillotine)
However, in the end those who championed liberty were corrupted (by power?)
Leaders used the guillotine to eliminate all opposition
Power fell to the military dictator Napoleon who tried to use his new power to take over all of Europe

Communist

Apr 28, 1917

Karl Marx wrote the communist manifesto outlining communism. In 1917 vladimir lenin was able to over throw the russian tsar. although he followed the manifesto he adapted it to suit his own puposes. The result was stalin and the kgb killing between 20-30 million russians through purging and starvation. stalin plummets the world into the cold war which lasts until the early 90's.

Fascism

Apr 28, 1920

After WWI, Benito Mussolini formed a fascist government in Italy.
He used brute force and his newly formed Black Shirts to keep order.

Nazism

Apr 28, 1925

Hitler spewed racial hatred against the Jews and Communists and promised to reverse the effects of the Treaty of Versailles. With total power Hitler waged WWII
He killed 55 million people and exterminated 6 million Jews and 5 million “enemies of the state”

United Nations

Apr 28, 1948

In 1948 the United Nations created the declaration of human rights. It pledged that human beings have a right to live and work without abuse from governments
That all people are “born free and equal and that all have the right to life, liberty and the security of person”