Preceden

Ancient Roots of American Democracy

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First City States Arise in Sumar

5300 B.C. - 1940 B.C.

  1. Type of Government: Monarchy
  2. Theory of the Origin of State: Divine Right
  3. Structure: The government was ruled by a governor or a king that was tied to the religion. He had a council of priests.
  4. Rights: The people's rights were based on the "eye for an eye" example.
  5. Source of Authority: The Gods

Sargon of Akkad Formed Empire

2270 B.C. - 2215 B.C.

  1. Type of Government: Monarchy
  2. Theory of the Origin of State: Divine Right
  3. Structure: Governemnt was ruled by the king and he set governors in the city states.
  4. Rights: People had no specific rights. The ruler could pretty much do as he pleased.
  5. Source of Authority: Succession, rebellion, the Gods.

Hammurabi's Code

1792 B.C. - 1750 B.C.

  1. Type of Government: Monarchy
  2. Theory of Origin of the State: Divine Right
  3. Structure: The king ruled the government.
  4. Rights: The people had the right to provide evidence for their crimes. The Code of Hammurabi (eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth) specified rights and punishments.
  5. Source of Authority: Succession

Athens Formed Direct Democracy

550 B.C.

  1. Type of Government: Democracy
  2. Theory of the Origin of the State: Social Contract
  3. Structure: The government had one high ruler and then had the courts, the council, and the assembly. These last three passed bills and laws that were voted upon by the citizens.
  4. Rights: Men had the right to vote once they had completed their time in the military. Women had very little rights.
  5. Source of Authority: Voting and election.

Roman Republic Formed

509 B.C. - 27 B.C.

  1. Type of Government: Republic
  2. Thoery of the Origin of the State: Social Contract
  3. Structure: The government was ruled by two heads that were elected every year by the citizens. They had the separation of powers and a senate.
  4. Rights: Men had the right to vote, women and men had the right to own property.
  5. Source of Authority: Election.

Feudalism Begins In Europe

801 - 1500

  1. Type of Government: Feudalism
  2. Theory of the Origin of the State: Force Theory
  3. Structure: There was one king. Lords worked for the king, knights worked for the lords, and peasents worked for the knights.
  4. Rights: People were constantly at war. Rights varied based on your level in society.
  5. Source of Authority: Amount of power, level in society.

English Civil War

1642 - 1651

  1. Type of Government: Monarchy
  2. Theory of the Origin of the State: Social Contract
  3. Structure: The war was between the power of the king and parliament.
  4. Rights: Men had more rights than women. Men with more power had more influence over the government.
  5. Source of Authority: Conquered through war.

Glorious Revolution in England

1688

  1. Type of Government: Monarchy
  2. Theory of the Origin of the State: Social Contract
  3. Structure: The king ruled with the parliament, and the parliament plotted to overthrow King James II and replace him with William III.
  4. Rights: The nobility had many rights, but commoners had barely any say in anything.
  5. Source of Authority: Succession.

American Revolution

1775 - 1783

  1. Type of Government: Monarchy and later Democracy
  2. Theory of the Origin of the State: Social Contract
  3. Structure: The king ruled the colonies, but the colonies had governors and lesser leaders.
  4. Rights: The Declaration Of Independence ensured man's god given rights.
  5. Source of Authority: Succession and later Election

Rise of Absolute Monarchies

1789 - 1809

  1. Type of Government: Monarchy
  2. Theory of the Origin of the State: Force Theory
  3. Structure: The king or queen was the absolute ruler of all.
  4. Rights: No civil rights were certain under the king's rule.
  5. Source of Authority: Succession