-
594 BCE
Ancient Greek democracy
The formation of our earliest known example of a democratic system is generally credited to Solon, who repealed and reformed the harsh Draconian legal system (which saw citizens mercilessly ruled over by the aristocracy), and set up an assembly where ordinary citizens could gather to vote and have their say.
Though it was a limited democracy, as only adult males could vote, granting power to the individual citizen was a radical idea that shaped the very core of classical liberalism. -
Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
In the early 13th century, England was under the tyrannical rule of King John. He imposed such high taxes on the Barons to fund his war, that many of them could no longer afford land. As a result, they renounced their ties to the king and marched on London.
The Magna Carta was created as an attempt to quell this unrest.
Although unsuccessful, it conceptualized rule of law by limiting the power of the monarchy (unprecedented), and establishing basic rights for English noblemen. -
Period: 1300 to
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a period characterized by drastic changes in European society, especially in areas such as art and philosophy.
Fueled by the invention of the printing press, educational materials became available to a wider variety of people, making it easy to spread ideas. This stressed a new importance on education and individual worth, shifting the belief that human nature is determined by divine power, to a belief that humans are rational, and capable of making decisions for themselves. -
Period: 1400 to
Haudenosaunee Confederacy
The Haundenosaunee confederacy was created when five warring nations (later six) met and agreed to live together by establishing an oral constitution known as the "Great law of peace".
Cited as a major inspiration for the American Declaration of Independence, this constitution created a division of power between branches of government, set out rules for the equal participation of all citizens, established rule of law, and granted individual rights and freedoms. -
Period: 1517 to
Reformation
The reformation was a movement initiated by Martin Luther, which saw the restructuring of the catholic church in Europe. It was his belief that the church had lost its true purpose, and had become corrupt. He argued against the practice of "paying away" sins, and challenged the superiority of the pope.
The church split as a result, and formed new denominations that people could choose from, using their own rational thoughts. This promoted more religious freedom, and inspired self-interest. -
Period: to
Enlightenment
The Enlightenment came hot on the tails of the Renaissance and the Reformation, and was characterized by the continued evolution of opinions on individual worth and trust in human nature, as well as increasing belief in logic over faith.This led to many important scientific advancements, which in turn spawned the industrial revolution, while also encouraging political reform that emphasized the worth of the individual. The French and American revolutions were a direct result of these new ideals. -
Period: to
Industrial Revolution
This was a period characterized by the rapid mechanization of industries that previously produced hand crafted goods. Work became centralized in cities and people migrated there from rural areas, dramatically altering the social, political, and economic landscapes of the time.
This resulted in opportunities for self-interest, competition, a greater availability of goods, and a demand for more economic freedom.
The vacated rural lands were also sold, and private property rights were established. -
American Revolution
The American revolution occurred as a result of the colonists desire for greater economic freedom from Britain. Largely Inspired by the theories of liberalism, they rejected the authority of the crown.
The result of the war was a decisive victory for the colonies, who declared independence and formed a democracy based on principles of liberalism such as the individual rights and freedoms to act in self-interest, and a clear limitation on the power of the government. -
French Revolution
Investment in the American revolution led to financial difficulties in France. The monarchy tried to solve them with a taxation scheme that mostly affected the lower classes.
Many commoners died of starvation while the upper classes remained largely unaffected.
Eventually, the commoners revolted and took control of the National Assembly.
Based on enlightenment ideals, they wrote the Declaration of the Rights of Man, which defined individual rights, and limited the powers of the government. -
Period: to
Changes to class system
As focus grew on individual worth in society, old ideas of social class based on birth faded away. In its place, a new hierarchy formed based on principles of individualism, such as self-interest and competition. Now, anybody could move up the social ladder if they were willing to work hard enough.
Classical liberalism was cemented in society as individual rights and freedoms, especially economic freedom, were incredibly important during this time
