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507 BCE
Athens and the Birth of Democracy
Athenian leader Cleisthenes created a system of political reforms that were ruled by the people of Athens. It was called Demokratia, for “the rule of the people”. This event is so important to the evolution of government and democracy because it was when the first-ever democracy was created. -
264 BCE
The Roman Empire and Bureaucracy
‘Bureaucracy is a system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives.’ Because it was getting so vast, the bureaucratization of Rome was meant to keep it in order by first assigning magistrates to supervise the first new provinces in 264BC. This event was important to the evolution of government and democracy because it showed how an effective bureaucracy could help a larger government function more easily. -
Jun 15, 1215
Constitutionalism and the Magna Carta
Magna Carta was important to the evolution of government and democracy because it meant that the king became a part of the constitution with the rest of their pupils, and was not above the law. Up until then, the Divine Right of Kings meant that they could do whatever they wanted whenever they wanted, and they could not be on trial either. Now the King/Queen can go on trial and they follow the same law as their citizens. -
The English Civil War and Thomas Hobbes’s Leviathan
Hobbes’s Leviathan argues that the power of the Monarchy is justified by the consent of the government in return for a promise of peace and safety. This was the opposite view of the side of the English Civil War that ended the monarchy, which was important to the evolution of government and democracy because kings had been abusing their power more so that what they agreed in the Magna Carta in 1215, and it had mostly ended the amount that they do this. The monarchy was never as powerful again. -
The Divine Right of Kings
The Divine Right of Kings, which was restored after the monarchy came back after the English Civil War, was practiced in England until the Glorious Revolution in 1688 that put the doctrine largely to rest. This was replaced with a democratically based, limited constitutional system. This was important to the evolution of government and democracy because it was when England in particular turned from the monarchs having all of the power to most of the power being given to the parliament. -
John Locke’s Two Treatises on Government and the Glorious Revolution
Locke’s Two Treatises defend the glorious revolution, which overthrew the king and was important to the evolution of government and democracy because now the king was the leader by parliament allowing it, not by God. This meant the divine right of kings fell at last, after it should have in 1215, and more power stayed with parliament. Locke also said the people can overthrow the government if it fails to protect their rights. Jefferson used this idea as he made the Declaration of Independence. -
Period: to
The Industrial Revolution
The industrial revolution was important to the evolution of government and democracy because economies based on agriculture and handicrafts turned into economies based on large-scale industry, manufacturing, and factories. This gave a lot more power and wealth to the merchants who owned these factories, and the labourers who worked in the factories went on strike and demanded their rights during this time, and they had better diets, housing, and education. -
The American Revolution
The American Revolution was important to the evolution of government and democracy because after this event, America’s new government was a republic that focused on the interests of the people rather than kings and the wealthy. This was a huge leap forward in democracy because now the power went to the people and those that they elected rather than a monarchy. This event created ideals of a new political order such as liberty, equality, natural and civil rights, and responsible citizenship. -
The French Revolution
The French Revolution was important to the evolution of government and democracy because the people of France gained their rights and were able to live freely. It created a new and fair government that was different from the unequal estate system before. The Revolution led to the first democratic government in Europe. -
The American Civil War
The American Civil War was important to the evolution of government and democracy because this was an end to slavery. Lincoln knew that America would only be united again when slavery ended. This is important because it means that the country was one step closer to everyone being equal. The Civil War was also important because the victory proved that democracy worked by showing the monarchs of England that the “fragile” system would not fail. “It shall not perish from the earth.” -
The Constitution Act of 1867
The creation of the British North America Act was important to the evolution of government and because this created the sovereignty of Canada. Moore said that the basic structure of how this country operates and how we govern ourselves is still based on that document that was put together in the 1860s. The act gave a plan for the division of powers between Parliament and provincial legislatures. -
The Russian Revolution
The Russian Revolution was important to the evolution of government and democracy because when communism was created, it scared countries in the west and made them make their democracies stronger. Although communism was created out of the Russian Revolution, it did put an end to the autocracy in Russia, and it also changed the economy completely. It may not be a great political ideology, but it was better than it was before and now people shared everything equally. -
The Persons Case of 1929
In 1928, the Supreme Court of Canada declared that women were not “persons” and could not be appointed to the senate. A group of women appealed to this in 1929, which led to a reversal of the decision. This was important to the evolution of government and democracy because it helped define Canada’s constitution. Now women are allowed to run for senate and are seen as equals, as well as being able to vote. This makes democracy in Canada a much fairer process because now everyone is represented. -
The Great Depression
This event was important to the evolution of government and democracy because Franklin D. Roosevelt created the New Deal, which was a series of programs, work projects, financial reforms and regulations that offered millions of jobs, which rebuilt the economy. The FDIC was also created and it maintains stability and public confidence in the nation's financial system. Regulation of markets, the Social Security System and the first national minimum wage were all a result of the Great Depression. -
Canadian Suffrage
Although by 1922, most Canadian provinces had full suffrage, Quebec did not have it until April 25th, 1940. Canadian Suffrage was important to the evolution of government and democracy because it allowed women, black and white, to vote. This meant that the system of democracy in Canada was now fairer because the views of every one were represented, and women could vote for someone who they thought better represented them. -
The Civil Rights Movement
The Civil Rights Movement was important to the evolution of government and democracy because African-Americans achieved their goal of equal rights and the prohibition of discrimination. They protested to achieve social, legal, political and cultural changes in America, and they were now seen as equal by the law. The major achievement is considered the banning of employment discrimination by race, colour, religion, sex or national origin. -
The 'end' of Communism
The “end” of Communism was important to the evolution of government and democracy because countries that were once communist and divided by communism, such as Germany, have now become more democratic. This communist experiment by the Soviet Union also showed many democratic countries that democracy was the strongest form of government and should not be changed. -
The end of Apartheid
The end of Apartheid was important to the evolution of government and democracy because now South Africa was no longer ruled by a white-ruled nationalist party, but it instead turned into a democracy. The negotiations to end Apartheid ended in the first non-racial election which was won by the African National Congress. The end of Apartheid ended much of the conflict in South Africa and allowed black-ruled states to join in partnership for social and economic growth.
