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Period: 460 BCE to 320 BCE
Ancient Greek Democracy
In the 4th and 5th century BCE, ancient Greece used democracy as the system of government. All male citizens had equal political rights and freedom of speech. The government met to discuss military needs, financial situations, food supplies, and treaties.
This contributed to classical liberalism because it was focused around freedom of speech in government, which is one of the primary principles of classical liberalism. -
1215
Magna Carta
At this time, King John of England was facing possible rebellion from the citizens, causing him to sign the Magna Carta. The Magna Carta was a constitution that put him and all of the future sovereigns within a rule of law. The Magna Carta has provided a foundation for English system of common law and a symbol of freedom.
This has contributed to classical liberalism, as it was the first constitution in Europe to put the leader under the rule of law, which is a founding principle of liberalism. -
Period: 1300 to 1500
The Renaissance
The Renaissance was a time period in Europe after the middle ages that promoted the rediscovery of classical philosophy, literature, art, and culture. Scientific discoveries were made, people began to question the church, and more people learned to read, making information spread more easily.
This is important to classical liberalism, as it was a time when people began to think for themselves, and use reason and science to make decisions. -
Period: 1400 to
Haudenosaunee Confederacy
The Haudenosaunee Confederacy was a group of First Nations tribes that together had a shared constitution called the Great Law of Peace. This constitution outlined the path to harmony, unity, and divided the power in the government.
This relates to classical liberalism, because it was the first time in North America that a constitution guaranteed individuals rights and freedoms. -
Period: 1517 to
Reformation
The reformation was initiate by the writings of Martin Luther, who began to criticize the church. Citizens began to question why the church was so wealthy while they were living in poverty. It was a call to purify the church, and make the bible the source of authority, not tradition.
This relates to classical liberalism, because it brought many long lasting changes for the people, such as new political and religious freedoms. -
Period: to
The Enlightenment
The Enlightenment was a period of time in Europe when great thinkers began to question traditional authority. Human reason and the scientific method were central factors contributing to the new ideas brought up by philosophers. The ideas in the Enlightenment directly lead to the American and French Revolutions.
This related to classical liberalism, because people began to think for themselves and take action to defend their rights and freedoms in the revolutions. -
Period: to
The Industrial Revolution
The Industrial revolution was the transformation of Britain a rural agricultural society to an urban industrial one. Advances in technology in the iron and textile industry, as well as transportation were central contributions. This lead to an improved standard of living for some, but for the poor and working class life was challenging.
This contributed to liberalism, as the economic liberal principles had a powerful influence on entrepreneurship. -
Period: to
The American Revolution
The American Revolution started due to increasing tensions between American colonies and the British colonial government. The government tried to increase taxes, but the citizens rebelled, causing events such as the Boston massacre and the Boston tea party.
This relates to liberalism because it is the first time in history that people fought for their independence in the name of rule of law and their political rights. -
Period: to
The French Revolution
The French revolution was inspired by the American revolution. The citizens did not like King Louis XVI, as he had lead the nation to bankruptcy and was not a diligent leader. The citizens rebelled against the monarchs and nobility to fight for their rights and freedoms.
This relates to classical liberalism because out of the French revolution came a constitution called the declararation of the rights of man. this constitution outlined individual rights and freedoms. -
Period: to
Changes to Class System
As classical liberalism started to take over society, the social class system diminished and economic class distinctions started to prevail. Individuals were able to create economic opportunities for themselves that allowed them to move to a higher economic class.
This relates to classical liberalism, because individuals were able to work towards bettering their own lives and succeeding, rather than being stuck in a predetermined social class.
