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510 BCE
Ancient Greece
In the United States, our Declaration of Independence says that the government should get their power from the consent of the governed. This idea can be traces back to 510 BCE, when parts of Greece became democratic. -
509 BCE
Roman Empire
The beginnings of representative government could be seen in the ancient Roman Empire. Rome was originally ruled by kinds, but eventually it changed into a form of democracy. -
689
John Locke
John Locke was an English philosopher. In 689 CE, he published a book about the natural rights held by every human being. Locke's ideas about natural rights helped to form the way we think about individual rights today. -
1100
Iroquois
Around 1100 CE, the Iroquois- a group of Native American tribes- also formed an alliance to work together toward a common goal. -
1215
Magna Carta
The English wrote the Magna Carta and included a very important section: The King was no longer allowed to do whatever he wanted. Instead, the King had to follow the "law of the land: when dealing with his subjects. -
Montesquieu
Montesquieu wrote that power must be divided in government to prevent one part from being too powerful. Our Founding Fathers were influenced by Montesquieu when they designed our government. -
Bill of Rights
In order to protest all individuals, our Founding Fathers created the Bill of Rights and attached it to the end of the Constitution. The Bill of Rights lays out the rights of all citizens in the United States