Timeline of The Evolution of Democracy Storyboard
You can find this storyboard in the following articles and resources:
Introduction to Democracy
Lesson Plans by Matt Campbell
Throughout the history of mankind, few inventions have shaped and impacted the world as much as the concept of democracy. These activities will allow students to reflect on the significance of a democracy and appreciate the role that they can play in it.
Storyboard Description
Democracy vs Republic Evolution of Democracy - Athens Democracy Government Timeline
Storyboard Text
- Roman Republic Established
- The Evolution of Democracy
- Athens Begins Direct Democracy
- Power
- To The
- People
- In 509 BCE, the Romans overthrew the Etruscans and gained back control of their land. The Romans established a Republic which allowed the patriarchs to vote on their representatives. Over time, more members of the lower class or "plebians" were given more say in government. With the Roman Republic in place, the concept of self-rule by the people had officially begun.
- Magna Carta is Signed
- For nearly 100 years, the Athenian government practiced a direct democracy. Under this democracy, citizens were chosen to guide their government with proposed laws and regulations. Although there were government officials, every law and regulation were voted upon by all citizens that chose to attend the public government assemblies. This form of government was incredibly significant for the evolution of democracy as it was the first major experiment with a direct democracy.
- Magna Carta
- United States Constitution Ratified
- In June of 1215, King John signed the "great charter" or Magna Carta. This document was a cornerstone in the evolution of our modern democracy as it forced the king of England to respect and uphold all the guaranteed feudal laws and most importantly forced the king to follow the laws as well. This official declaration became a major precedent for establishing the concept of rule of law that keeps the government in check.
- On June 21st, 1788 the newly established United States of America ratified the Constitution. The Constitution of the United States of America was a groundbreaking document for the evolution of democracy as it clearly listed the rights and restrictions of the government and created a government established by the people and for the people.
- Bill of Rights Ratified
- Although the Constitution had already been ratified, the political group known as the Anti-Federalists fought for guaranteed inalienable rights for the citizens of this new country. The Bill of Rights was essential for the evolution of democracy because it guaranteed specific rights such as Freedom of Speech, Religion, Press, Petition, and many more.
- We Are Against The War!
- Civil Rights Act of 1964
- "....prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin"
- In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act. Although the United States of America had established a government "with liberty and justice for all", it had alienated and mistreated numerous minority groups in society. Under this monumental act, citizens could no longer be discriminated by employers by their race, color, religion, sex, and national origin.
Image Attributions
- Civil rights demonstration in front of a segregated theater: Tallahassee, Florida - State Library and Archives of Florida - (License No known copyright restrictions )
- Johnson and MLK - gademocrats - (License Attribution )
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