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550
Rise of Athenian Democracy
Athenian Democracy
Athenian Democracy was the first time power was taken out of the hands of one person and given to the people. This would eventually lead to what is now classical liberalism (securing the freedom of individuals by limiting the power of the government). -
Jan 1, 1215
Magna Carta
Magna Carta
The Magna Carta was the first document that a king was forced to sighn by his subjects in an attempt to limit the power of the Monarchy and secure the rights and freedoms of the people. This document later inspired and led to the United States Constitution. -
Period: Jan 1, 1350 to Jan 1, 1550
The Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was based on awareness of individualism and growth of secularism. Also the idea of humanism emerged.
Another large part of the Renaissance was going against authority, to question what was before you using reasoning skills. This time period laid the groundwork for the concept of Liberalism -
Period: Jan 1, 1400 to
Haudenosaunee Confederacy
Haudenosaunee Confederacy
The Haudenosaunee created a league in order to gain individual and group rights for themselves. The goal was to have equal rights to what the white man was already recieving. The league's creation was to ensure that their voices be heard in this new world where Native Americans were thought as second class citizens. -
Period: Jan 1, 1517 to
The Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
A German pastor named Martin Luthur believed that the Church was corrupted and held too much power, Luther's ideas led to the restructuring of the European church. In the years after new dominions were constructed according to various ideas. This made the power of the church wane and faith in human beings grow. Luther's act against the church was definitely a liberal move against authority. -
Period: to
The Age of Enlightenment
Age of Enlightenment
The age of Enlightenment was the age of reason and focused on the worth of the individual, natural rights, and authority rests with the people. Many of the Enlightenment ideals were (are) used in Liberalism. -
Period: to
The Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution revolutionized the production process and how people made products. However, it also allowed people to be more indiviualistic because now there were more and better products being produced. People now could develop themselves. It also gave people the freedom to pursue their own wealth and they were responsible for their own mistakes. -
The American Revolution
American Revolution
John Locke introduced the idea of equality for all citizens, his and the ideas from The Enlightenment contributed to the American Revolution. At the time, British colonies were upset due to "taxation with representation". Independance from Britain was declared and a new form of government controlled by it's citizens was instituted. America was free from rule by a foreign power and a declaration was signed. -
The French Revolution
The French Revolution
The French Revolution took place in France and involved a shift in power from the Old Regime to the Third Estate. During the Revolution people fought for equal rights and freedoms, They wanted these freedoms to get away from the rigid class structure where the Church and Nobility had more rights than the average person. -
Period: to
Changes to the Class System
Changes to the Class Structure
Liberalism really began as a concept and many of the ideas are connected to the class system. During this time period, educated working upper class citizens began to become wealthy. They bought into the idea of individualism that basically stated that you can be whatever you want to be. The majority of the "old money" aristocracy looked down upon these ideals.