-
Period: 507 BCE to 322 BCE
Ancient Greek Democracy
The Ancient Greek Democracy, or Athenian Democracy, was a reference point for many modern democracies. Ancient Greek philosophers and prominent thinkers became people who were studied and listened to. Their thoughts became ideas used to build the very principles that modern democracy and liberalism are based upon today. Ancient Greek Democracy encouraged individual rights, most prominently the right to vote, and we use that right today. -
1215
Magna Carta
Magna Carta was the first legal document put in place detailing the fact that the King and his government were not above the law. This established the Rule of Law, a foundational liberalist principle. The Rule of Law outlines that no one person is above the law, and that, in the eyes of the law, everyone is to be treated equally. This means that there are no special principles and that every individual is judged as they are, and not based on any sort of title. -
Period: 1300 to 1500
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a period marked by many changes in systems in Europe. Many things were being "reborn," and that was how the Renaissance got its name. The Renaissance brought forward many prominent thinkers in history and led to the rise of humanist thinking, which has direct ties to liberalism and individualism. Humanism emphasizes individual dignity and the fact that humans are inherently rational and capable of decision-making. These values are shared with individualism in many ways. -
Period: 1400 to
Haudenosaunee Confederacy
The Haudenosaunee Confederacy was a grouping of six nations in the United States, all united under one set of rules, entitled the Great Law of Peace. This confederacy is considered to be one of the longest continually existing democracies in the world. The Great Law of Peace promotes many individual rights, such as equal rights for all, including women. It also outlines freedom of speech, religion, and rights of the individual, promoting individualism and classical liberalist thought. -
Period: 1517 to
Reformation
The Reformation was a religious revolution that took place in the Roman Catholic Church. The Reformation had major social, economic, and political effects, and led to the formation of Protestantism. The Reformation was influenced by Humanism and was caused by the corruption within the Catholic Church. Faith in the rational nature of people was promoted, and individual rights were promoted, with the Reformers advocating for a sense of personal autonomy, as well as religious tolerance for all. -
Period: to
Enlightenment
The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement in Europe concerning a shifting worldview. The Enlightenment considered topics such as God, human nature, and reasoning. A central topic of the Enlightenment was reasoning, and the very existence of reasoning as a fundamental thing that all humans have was a new idea altogether. The Enlightenment contributed to individualism by emphasizing inherent human rights and by challenging many outdated social hierarchy structures. -
Period: to
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was an economic transition from an older system to a newer, more efficient one. With the Industrial Revolution came unprecedented growth in the economy, in working wages, and a population growth. This is because working became more sustainable and safe, and it was less manual labour and more machinery-based. The Industrial Revolution promoted individualism through the growth of capitalism, and through increased accessibility of goods to all. -
American Revolution
The American Revolution was a war to establish American sovereignty and independence from Great Britain. The American Revolution built a republic that was reliant on democracy and elected its own leaders. This republic also enshrined individual rights in its constitution, with "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" being fundamental rights outlined within its constitution. -
French Revolution
The French Revolution was a revolution that began in 1789. It was a fight for equality among the social classes as there was large amounts of inequality between classes, with the vast majority of the French population resting in the lowest, poorest class. The French Revolution ended with the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen, a document outlining fundamental rights for all men. This document is often regarded as the inspiration for the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. -
Changes to Class Systems
The Class System, previously about two classes, expanded during the Industrial Revolution to include a third. With this new class, there were now Upper, Lower, and a new Middle Class, shifting the class people fell into. Most fell into the middle class now, a working class with higher levels of individual freedom. People had freedom to work different jobs, to own property in the city, and to make decisions about their lives, versus having to rely on the decisions of their employer or landlord.