Towards+Demoncracy

Greek and Roman Ideas
Evaluate how and why rules and laws were created, interpreted, and changed in an effort to make governments more democratic. What influences remain today. How did these ideas impact people's lives?

Greek Ideas: Several systems of government were created back then: -monarchy, ruled by a king or monarch -aristocracy, ruled by a small group of noble landowners -oligarchy, ruled by a few powerful people The Ancient Greeks were the first to adopt a democracy This democracy meant that every citizen (males of above 18) was allowed to participate in making governmental decisions and the annual assembly in which three nobles were picked to rule the city state. This was still a very limited democracy

Around 600 B.C., Athens suffered severe economic problems. In 594 B.C., Solon rose to power to deal with the rising economic crisis First, he outlawed debt-based slavery and canceled farmer's debts. He then established the four classes of citizenship based on wealth rather than heredity The Citizens of the three higher classes were allowed to hold office Lowest class citizens were still allowed to vote. These changes helped Athens become a little more democratic

In 508 B.C., Cleisthenes Reorganized the assembly to balance the power of the rich and poor

Many of these ideas Roman Ideas:  -    ** Adopted the idea from the Greek that **** the **** citizen is a part of the state. ** **
 * -All citizens had the right to equal treatment under the law **
 * -A person was considered innocent until proven guilty. **
 * - **** The burden of proof rested with the accuser rather than the accused. **
 * - **** Any law that seemed unreasonable or grossly unfair could be set aside. **
 * - The code should be applied equally and impartially to citizens.

Influential Ideas from Semitic Religions
All people are equal before God -- this was a very important concept as it strongly influenced the idea of democracy It is the responsibility of every person to oppose injustice People need to love themselves, their family, their friends and neighbors Emphasis on individual worth Rulers have to obey the same laws as those that are ruled Tolerance on different groups of the community

The Reformation
A useful read and [|summary]. //"The Reformation of the 16th century was a movement within Western Christendom to purge the church of medieval abuses and to restore the doctrines and practices that the reformers believed conformed with the Bible and the New Testament model of the church. This led to a breach between the Roman Catholic Church and the reformers whose beliefs and practices came to be called Protestantism."// http://www.mb-soft.com/believe/txn/reformat.htm

The Reformation began when Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses Debate over the legitimacy of the sale of indulgences. The Church saw Luther as a heretic and took measures to stop rebellion. Protestant reformers attacked the Church's beliefs and practices. Although the attempts to completely reform the Church were largely unsuccessful, this greatly changed the authority of the Church and of the Pope.

The Renaissance
Here is one link to a list of [|themes]. There was a renewed interest in classical culture. There was a lot of restoration of old monuments and works of art and the rediscovery of forgotten Greek and Latin manuscripts related to reason and logic. Renaissance thinkers were interested in earthly life for life’s sake, and rejected the medieval view that life was only a preparation for the heavenly. Christian writers were critical of the failure of the Church to encourage people to live a life that was moral and ethical. Scholars put more emphasis on subjects concerned with culture and humankind. This led to an intellectual movement that encouraged ideas about human potential and achievement. Renaissance thinkers began to explore ideas about political power and the role of government in the lives of normal people. Artists seeked to capture individual character. During this period, individualism became deeply rooted in Western culture.

The Enlightenment
Here is a list of some the [|key ideas and themes] to consider in your answer. Established the idea of natural laws that could be discovered by careful observation and reasoned inquiry.

The Scientific Revolution
Provide a summary of the main ideas from each of these periods that can be said to have influenced democratic processes? When were these periods in history?

England's Emergence as a Democracy
Describe how England's monarchy emerged to become the constitutional parliamentary system it is today. Discuss the importance of some of the key documents that emerged in defining the system and the processes.

Describe and evaluate the change in the basic functions, structures and purposes of government that occurred due to the changes in England and the revolutions listed below. Henry and the Jury The jury system was developed by Henry he had replaced feudal justice with grand juries, and court, and jury trials. i.     Henry II and the Magna Carta of 1215 including the due process of law and the model Parliament The Magna Carta states that a king cannot wrongfully prison a free man with judgment from his peers. The king cannot induce taxes without review from the council. These rules served as a milestone for the reopening of democracy, and were immediately put into effect for all English people alike. It prevented King John from further violating the rights of the feudal lords. Shifting roles of Knights and burgesses by the 1300s Knights and burgesses were started to be used as financial advisers, or some other type directly to the king. Eventually at one part parliament was summoning knights to the council. >> The conflicts mainly were expressed by from English protestant exiles that felt very grudgingly toward the monarchy thrust upon Queen Mary 1 James 1’s conflict with Parliament surrounding 3 issues His religious views (Protestant) were regarded as abolished in an act to revive Roman Catholicism, which began the Marian Persecutions. The Revival of the Heresy Act was enacted which put further pressure on “heretics”. James the first created the Oath of Allegiants which was a group in denial of the fact that the pope had a higher position over the king. The five articles of Perth was and attempt to bring together the Presbyterian church of Scotland with the Church of England. The Petition of Right – what it means and how it came to be in 1625 To gain restitution (restoring to its natural owner) of personal property which has found its way into the hands of the Crown, or compensation if restitution could not be made then a compensation will be placed. The other is recover damages in the case of a breach in the contract. They were created in a act of consideration for the crown, but turned out to be much more useful. Cromwell’s takeover, what he created and the outcomes He played an important role in English Reformation which he ended up creating the Act of Restraint in appeals, which denied any appeals toward Rome, which in turn removed the need of the pope for divorces. However Cromwell’s greatest achievement, ironically lead to his end, he convinced the king to remarry which turned out to be a horrible mistake, and the king killed him. >> The military dictatorship continued to be unpopular. >> 1660, new parliament restored the monarchy and invited Charles Stuart to take the throne. >> Period called the Restoration – monarchy restored to the throne >> Parliament retained the powers it had gained during the struggles of the previous two decades (monarch could not tax without Parliament’s consent) >> “You are ordered to have the body” >> When someone is arrested, police must produce the person in court. >> Prevents authorities from detaining a person wrongfully. >> Still important in modern democracies. >> After Charles II died (1685) James II became King. >> Believed in divine right. >> Parliament withdrew their support and offered the throne to his daughter and her husband, William. >> William invaded England and James fled to France. >> William and Mary were crowned co-rulers of England. >> Parliament had established its right to limit the English monarch’s power and control succession to the throne >> England was now a constitutional monarchy. >> >>
 * The conflicts over the concept of divine right
 * The Restoration and what it meant for Parliament
 * The Restoration and what it meant for Parliament
 * “Habeus Corpus” and why it was, and why it remains, significant
 * The Glorious Revolution and the effect on governance
 * The effect of the English Bill of Rights in England and us today
 * The influence all this has on other rising democracies, even today
 * Henry developed jury trial to administer royal justice
 * Angry nobles demand the King to pass Magna Carta
 * All citizens were gathered to be a model Parliament
 * Kings said the power came from god to rule with absolute power
 * First, religious reformers were trying to change the church of England. Second, James used the Star Chamber to administer justice. Third, James wanted more money for debt and war.
 * Charles I needed funds and was forced to limit royal power by parliament and to accept the Petition of Rights which is taxing without parliament’s consent, imprisoning citizens illegally, housing troops in citizens houses and maintaining military government in peacetime

> Included a series of intellectual and social shifts such as the new republican ideals and the expansion of democracy .
 * 1)  Began after the French military threat to the British North American colonies ended. England wanted the colonies to pay a portion of the costs associated with keeping them in the empire. The colonies wanted independence. Fighting broke out in 1775. By 1776, representatives of the thirteen colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence, by which they established the United States.

The French Revolution
=== ===     Financial crisis (Debts from the 7 years war) Resentment of royal absolutism the clergy and the nobility enjoyed many privileges – only commoners paid taxes. Continued hatred for Catholic control Aspirations for liberty and republicanism
 * 1) What are seen to be the main causes of the French Revolution? Explain the roles of the classes and the ideas that initiated this revolution

Louis raised taxes and called the Estates-General into session. People left in protest and formed the National assembly and adopted the Declaration of the rights of Man and of the Citizen
 * 1) How did Louis the XVI only make things worse in 1789 and what new Assemblies and Declarations were created in the process? What was the purpose of these new institutions?

It wasn’t accepted by Louis, the aristocracy, or many Catholics. Many European countries feared the spread of democratic ideas and went to war with France in attempts to undo the new French republic. The Reign of Terror followed and many people were killed for their beliefs, including the king and queen. In 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte took control of France and created a dictatorship.
 * 1) What happened after the dissolution of the National Assembly made way for a new Legislative Assembly? How does it all end in 1799?

What principles listed in any of these periods of time do you believe are the most important to the function of government and to your life today? Freedom of speech Equality of Human Rights Natural Rights (Property, Liberty, Life) Security I think Freedom of Speech and the Human Rights problem is very severe here in China. Everything is more easily covered up now, so we don't often read about it in the newspapers, but things such as being put under constant surveillance, house arrest, arrested/executed wrongly etc still happen quite often.

How do these principles emerge in struggles to create democracies around the world in the past 20 years. Explain with references to at least 2 examples of democratic movements that have occurred in the past 20 years or some that are still ongoing. Hong Kong being returned to China Tibet fighting for its independence