Origins of Canadian Government Timeline

Athens was the first known location that democracy was formed, it was derived from two Greek words. 'Demos' meaning 'the people' and 'kratos' meaning rule. So the direct translation of democracy is rule of the people. This began democracy, all of the people of Athens being able to vote for who they wanted. Women, slaves, and children could not. Each year names would be chosen to serve for 1 year, and were responsible for controlling the politics. Canada now has a democracy similar to Athens.

The Roman Empire began a republic. Similar to a democracy, republics nominate and vote for their leaders. Much like Greece, women, slaves, non-citizens and children could not vote. The Romans had a set law that helped minorities called the Twelve Tables. No hate speech began here, one of these laws stating that: "If any person has sung or composed against another person a song such as was causing slander or insult to another...". Canada still has a no hate speech rule, although not as brutal.

The Magna Carta was a bill, like we in Canada have, that stated that the King was no longer above the law. This prevented the King from exploiting his power, and brought the UK people more freedom to speak against the King. This is also present in the Canadian Government, because Government officials are also not above the law.

The Iroquois Confederacy was a confederacy of indigenous communities in North America. The Confederacy is widely recognized as the first democratic government in North America. Its democratic process and institutions would later influence the Canadian parliamentary system, chiefs having power over their communities, coming together to make decisions for the entire confederacy. Now, MPs represent their individual communities but come together to pass legislation for the entire country.

The Divine Right of Kings was the beginning of the Monarchy, the use of God being a tool to solidify a King's position. No one was above the King, not even the church, as God supposedly stated. It has its roots in the medieval idea that the King was given earthly power by God, and therefore removing him or restricting his power was counted as treason. It came to an end after The Glorious Revolution of 1688. We see this now with Canada having a monarchy, a tie back to our Kingly roots.

Thomas Hobbes' ideas on the social contract and the need for a central ruler to maintain order and prevent anarchy have been influential in the development of Canadian democracy. The idea of a central ruler is seen in the structure of the Canadian parliament system. The PM serves as the primary leader of the country. Additionally, Hobbes' belief in the importance of an absolute ruler to ensure stability and prevent chaos has impacted Canada in promoting order and safety.

John Locke has impacted Canadian democracy through his idea of the social contract. The idea of a social contract, where individuals give up some of their rights in exchange for protection and the opportunity to live in a civil society, is a foundational aspect of Canadian democracy. Additionally, Locke's emphasis on the protection of individual rights and freedoms has been reflected in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

British Parliament has the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The House of Commons makes decisions for the country, while the House of Lords is made of appointed and hereditary members. The Canadian parliament system is modeled after the British system, the House of Commons acting as the legislative body, the Canadian Senate acting as the less powerful advisory. This parliament system has helped to maintain democracy by allowing citizens to participate in the decision-making.

Before the American Revolution, Canada was a colony of Great Britain. After the war, many Americans fled northward into what is now Canada, bringing their ideas of democracy and freedom with them. These ideas, along with the experience of being under British rule, helped shape the politics of Canada and influenced the development of Canada's democracy. Today, Canada is a parliamentary democracy, with elected representatives making decisions for the country and maintaining order and stability.

Before the French Revolution, many societies were based on a hierarchical system. The French Revolution shook this system by introducing the concept of universal rights, such as life, liberty, and happiness. These ideals would later influence the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Additionally, many of the ideas and principles from the French Revolution, such as equality and justice for all, have been central to Canadian politics in the years since.

During this time, citizens were hit hard by rising unemployment, falling wages, and the loss of savings and investments, leading to frustration with the existing political system. This frustration amplified by a decrease in political participation, as people became less trusting of the government. These factors helped to create the conditions that led to the rise of political extremism, including fascism, and paved the way for the expansion of populist movements and parties in Canada. 1929-1939.

The 1960s caused many Canadians began to question the traditional power structures and were often seen as outdated and out-of-touch with the needs of modern society. This period of social change was spearheaded by the baby boomers, who wanted to challenge create a more equal and just society. Social movements such as feminism, civil rights, and advocacy for minority rights all thrived in this period, and many of their ideals and principles are now central to Canadian politics.