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500 BCE
Ancient Greek Democracy
It was a system of direct democracy, in which citizens voted directly on legislation and executive bills. To vote one had to be an adult, male citizen, this was 30% of the population. Before democracy Athens was ruled by wealthy men called Archons. Around 500 BC Solon, the latest Archon, created a democracy by creating a council of 400 men, 100 from each tribe. It was overthrown soon after then reinstated in 510. The democracy grew from there. -
1215
Magna Carta
It was a charter of rights agreed to by King John of England. It promised the protection of church rights, protection for the barons from illegal imprisonment, access to swift justice, and limitations on feudal payments to the Crown. It gave them individual rights. The charter became part of English political life and was typically renewed by each monarch in turn. Magna Carta still forms an important symbol of liberty today, often cited by politicians and campaigners. -
Period: 1300 to 1500
Renaissance
The Renaissance was considered the bridge between the Middle Ages and Modern history. It began as a cultural movement in Italy and later spread to the rest of Europe. The Renaissance was a time of great beauty and art. Italy, the birthplace of the renaissance, had exited from Feudalism and had a society that was based on merchants and commerce. Linked to this was anti-monarchical thinking, and had a strong message about the virtues of fairness, justice, republicanism and good administration. -
Period: 1400 to
Haudenosaunee Confederacy
The Haudenosaunee or Iroquois peoples influenced liberal thought in North America. The Great Law of Peace, or the Constitution of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, outlined the path to harmony and unity among the nations, divided powers between different levels of government, and established the equal participation of the people, including women, in the government. It also guaranteed certain rights and freedoms, including the freedom of speech and the rights of individuals. -
Period: 1517 to
Reformation
The Protestant Reformation dramatically altered the political, economic, and social circumstances of Europe through its opposition to the Catholic Church and its hierarchical concentration of religious power and perceived corruption of that power. The reformist believed that the church held to much power and that people are equal. During the same time period as the Protestant Reformation, people began to have faith in the rationality of individual people. -
The Enlightenment
Enlightenment philosophers are given credit for shaping liberal ideas.These ideas were first drawn together and systematized as a distinct ideology by the English philosopher John Locke, generally regarded as the father of modern liberalism. The Enlightenment emphasized personal liberty. A historian explained this, "Individuals had rights, all men were equal and legitimate political power is based on the consent of the people and is obligated to be representative of the people's will." -
Period: to
Industrial Revolution
The impact of the first Industrial Revolution was pervasive and lead to new social, economic, and political ideologies. The influx of new and batter jobs expanded the middle class. The middle class, especially in Britain, pushed for liberalism. They liked the idea that each person is responsible for themselves and has the right to work to elevate their social status. -
American Revolution
John Locke's ideas on liberty influenced the political thinking behind the revolution. He argued that all humans were created equally free, and governments therefore needed the "consent of the governed." John Locke and other enlightenment thinkers' ideas influenced The founding fathers, who were at the time early Patriot leaders. these men were Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and George Washington. -
French Revolution
In 1787 France went into economic drought and there was not enough food. This was due to the king's loans to the american revolution. The group that suffered was the third estate, which consisted of poor, city workers and the wealthy merchant class. The upper classes continued their lives as normal. The lower class began to revolt against the monarchy under their leader Robespierre. They revolted because they wanted equality among the classes. They were also influenced by the Enlightenment. -
Changes to class system
As classical liberalism took over, society began to change. Social classes began to diminish and class structure emerged. This valued individuals as unique and equal and encouraged more economic opportunities, allowing them to become wealthy and join a higher economic class. It tore down the Hierarchy separating people and allowed them to pursue what they wanted to.
