1. Democracy:A Brief History

2. The Beginning of Democracy
Democracy means rule by the people
Origin: ancient Greece
Adult male citizens participated directly in the government of the city-state of Athens (not an all-inclusive democracy: women, slaves and foreign born men were left out)

3. Early Democracy in England
1215 – King John I is forced to sign the Magna Carta (Great Charter)
This document places limits on his power
It states that no one, even the King, is above the law

4. Early North American Democracy
1600s --The Iroquois Confederacy allowed five nations to meet to discuss and resolve issues
It was more democratic than European Governments of the time and influenced the modern governments of Canada and the United States

5. The American Revolution
1775: Fed up with their King and the level of taxes they pay, angry American colonists break away from their home country (Britain) by force and form a new country.

6. The American Constitution
1787: The founders of the new country of America decide that the structure of their country and government should be clearly and formally laid out. The American Constitution establishes the United States as a Republic, with an elected President.

7. The French Revolution
Late 1700s – The Monarchy in France was overthrown
The idea of citizenship and the rights of the people were changing
Under the slogan “Liberty, Fraternity, Equality” they challenged historical views on social class and status

8. Democracy in the British Empire
The New Zealand Election Act gave all women in New Zealand the right to vote
The first place in the Empire and one of the first in the world to allow women to vote, regardless of status or ethnicity

9. Modern Democracy Has been influenced by the events profiled above
Takes a variety of forms:
Direct democracy – citizens are immediately involved in the decisions of government
Representative democracy – citizens choose representatives to make decisions and act on their behalf

10. Countries use different forms of Democracy
Ex: Parliamentary democracy, based on the British Westminster model
Republican Democracy (ex – USA) – where citizens vote for both their representative(s) and their leader

11. The United Nations has identified eight elements that are common to all Democratic societies:
Rule of Law
Political Equality
Common Good
Personal Freedoms
Human Dignity
Political Freedoms
Being Informed & Getting Involved
Respect