Classical Liberalism Timeline

Ancient Greek Democracy

507 BCE

A system of political reforms called demokratia was introduced by the athenian leader Cleisthenes. This was the first know democracy in the world. It was composed of a sovereign governing body that wrote laws, representatives from the 10 tribes, and the popular courts where citizens argued cases. Equality was limited to a small portion of the population. Only male citizens over the age of 18 could participate in democratic processes. Athenian democracy evolved into aristocracy.

Magna Carta

1215

Signed 1215, it limited kings power and established rights for individuals. Magna Carta is a royal charter of rights which promised protection of church rights, baron's protection, and more.

Renaissance

1301

The rebirth. The renaissance marked the transition from the middle age to modern time. With this transition, there was a change in the most fields like architecture, art, religion, literature, science, and much more. This movement began in Florence and continued to spread throughout eastern Europe. Scholars applied humanist methods in their studies, and searched for emotion in art.

Haudenosaunee Confederacy

1401

It was thought that everyone should just live under the same roof, meaning they have the same rules and everyone was treated equal. This brought the idea that individuals, no matter their gender or class, have the same rights and responsibilities. These rights and freedoms can be seen in out charter.

Reformation

1517

The reformation was a somewhat a result of the influence of the renaissance. It began when MArtin Luther determined that the church was too powerful. People began breaking away from the church, and began making decisions based off of reason, not religion.

The Enlightenment

1701

The enlightenment, beginning in 1701 contributed to the production of many essays, inventions, laws, revolutions, and many more things. It was seen that reason is the source of authority, which lead to ideas such as liberty. The enlightenment ultimately lead to movements like liberalism and socialism.

Industrial Revolution

1750

Prior to the industrial revolution, peasants lives were controlled by the church, as well as the local lord. The revolutions occurred in Britain from about 1750 to 1900. Factors such as technology, private property, individual and economic freedom, self interest, and competition contributed to the revolution. As a result, there was a shift from feudalism to industrialization during this time. People began to have more rights and were responsible for their own lives.

American Revolution

1776

The ideas of enlightenment contributed to the 1776 American Revolution. John Locke's ideas inspired American colonists to declare independence from the British crown. Instead they established a republican government where the authority was in the hands of the citizens and not a monarch.

French Revolution

1789

After the American Revolution, the French Revolution was an attempt to use liberal principles to change society. King Louis XVI clung to autocracy, leaving the government to go bankrupt and in debt after assisting the funding of the American War of Independence. The 3rd Estate revolted once they sensed a lack of the King's commitment. The revolution soon became the Reign of Terror but ultimately, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen came out of the revolution.

Changes to class system

1801

In the past, people were born into a class, and they would remain in that class. When the ideas of classical Liberalism become important, things began to change. Classical liberalism valued unique individuals and also encouraged economic opportunities. Instead of a structure based on class, a new form of structure rose was created. People were no longer born into a class, instead it was dependent on wealth. Through economic freedom, more people had the opportunity to become wealthy.