Democracy: Milestones

The Greeks develop the first known governmental system based upon "rule by the people" principles. The word "democracy" is composed of the words "demos", Greek for "people", and "kratein", Greek for "rule".
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This is an artist's depiction of King John singing the Magna Carta. The Magna Carta was an agreement that stated the law is above the king's ruling. This marked the start of Britain's transition out of monarchy.
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King Edward I in Britain to introduces the elected body governing system. Although a smiliar system had been used before in the past, King Edward was the first to call it "parliment".
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The Habeas Corpus Act, passed in England, states that all individuals have the right to challenge their imprisonment by the authorities. The government in England was pressured into passing this act due to abuse use of power at the time.
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The french revolution brings about many landmark changes. The dethroned king, Louis XVI is executed. France transitions from an absolute monarchy to a republic.
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On this date, the leaders of what is now Canada, established the union that turned the many separate colonies, into the Dominion of Canada. This created the beginnings of the democratic system we now know today where all provinces are ruled under a federal parliament.
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This second reform act mainly worked to increase the number of people allowed to vote. With more men allowed to vote, results of election became more representative of the entire peoples opinion, and more democratic.
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New Zealand was the first country to extend the right to vote to all women. Following New Zealand, many other countries began to follow suit promoting political equality and democracy.
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With the many steps foward, there were also many steps back in the history of democracy. The 1917 revolution in Russia, of the "Red Revolution", succeeded in overthrowing the Tsarist autocracy, but only to establish a communist government
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