civics

Democracy in Ancient Greece

401 BCE

The Greeks were the first to create a democracy. The Greeks believed that their citizens should be able to take a more active role in ruling their civilization. They operated this democracy by "electing" 500 citizens who had to take an active role in creating laws and serving the government for one year. This was the first example of democracy ever and since then, has impacted us today by being the starting point for democracy, ever since it has been refined and been made far better by today.

Roman Empire

25 BCE

Founded in 25 BC, the Roman Empire began as a monarchy, known for their military, political, and social institutions. The empire lasted about 1000 years before it toppled due to internal corruption. The effects of the Roman Empire were long lasting and have influenced how our world works today. Legal ideas like trial by jury, civil rights, contracts, personal property, legal wills, and corporations all were influenced by Roman law and the Roman way of looking at things.

The Magna Carta

1215

the first document to put into writing the principle that the king and his government was not above the law. This meant that the monarchy was still able to be held accountable when breaking the law. This had long lasting effects on the Canadian law by influencing key Canadian documents including the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms which is still used to this day.

Iroquois Confederacy

1350

confederation of five (later six) Indian tribes across upper New York state that during the 17th and 18th centuries played a strategic role in the struggle between the French and British for mastery of North America. The Iroquois Confederation influenced the concept of representative government which is still used to this day.

Divine Right of Kings

1504

a political and religious doctrine of royal and political legitimacy asserted that kings derived their authority from God and could not therefore be held accountable for their actions by any earthly authority such as a parliament. This basically established that people couldn't challenge the king and is no longer used today.

Thomas Hobbes

1588

Thomas Hobbes was an English philosopher. known for his book Leviathan which came out in 1651. He wrote a lot of books in his time about religion, government and his own personal political ideas. His views and theories have made an impact on us even today with his Social contract theory: The notion that people give up some of their individual freedoms in exchange for protection from the state. His work was enough to influence the Founding Fathers and the First Principles.

John Locke

1632

John Locke was an English philosopher and political theorist who was born in 1632. He is recognized as the founder of British empiricism and the author of the first systematic exposition and defense of political liberalism. One of his writings heavily influenced the author of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson. He left a legacy of writings and ideas on human understanding, religion, economics, and politics that still influences our government today.

British Parliament

1707

The British Parliament was formed in 1707 (however the results of which year it was formed are skewed) and is still active today. The British Parliament directly effects Canada as most law was inherited through the influence of the British.

Revolutionary Ideas

1775

Ideas of liberty, equality, natural and civil rights and citizenship. Revolutions formed so that they could make a change via force. The most well known example is the French revolution: King Louis XVI needed more money, but had failed to raise more taxes when he had called a meeting of the Estates General and thus, the revolution began which ultimately toppled the French monarchy. Bits of these revolutionary ideas are still seen today in protests often surrounding equality.

Social Revolutions

1960

Social revolutions are sudden changes in the structure and nature of society. These revolutions are usually recognized as having transformed society, economy, culture, philosophy, and technology. These revolutions have made society have increased participation in politics and governance, the legal institutionalization of religious toleration, etc.