Page 17 - All About History - Issue 09-14

Democracy

registering to vote in the first
municipal election after the American
Civil War

William Pitt the Younger, a dominant Slavery abolished in the
force in early British party politics United States
Party system USA 1865
originates in England One of the most brutal opponents to democracy
ENGLAND 1678 throughout history has been slavery, with slaves
Following the creation of the Bill of Rights in stripped of any rights and totally prohibited
England, documentation that established the civil from voting. Indeed, it was not until 1833 in
Britain and then 1865 in the USA that slaves
and political rights of English citizens, representative were made free people, and they were not
party systems began to form, with the Tory Party granted a vote until much, much later. The 15th
one of the first to gain traction, starting in 1678. Amendment to the US constitution ensured that
England’s party system grew and evolved to state governments could not deny any citizen
encompass a myriad of political parties, with many regardless of ‘race, color, or previous condition of
of today’s worldwide multi-party democratic systems servitude’ from voting.
directly or indirectly stemming from them.

O A commonwealth is O Bill of Rights O French monarchy ends
created Following the The French O Women finally O Marxism fails in Chile
Following years of introduction of the Revolution comes allowed to vote The world’s first democratically
tension between Habeas Corpus Act ten to a close with New Zealand leads elected Marxist president,
the English crown years previous, in 1689 King Louis the charge in Salvador Allende, begins a
and Parliament, England introduces a XVI of France suffrage for women, series of nationalisation
King Charles I is Bill of Rights, legally executed. allowing them to programs and social
defeated in war and establishing the rights An absolute vote. However, they reforms. He is
Oliver Cromwell’s of citizens living monarchy is are not allowed to overthrown three
commonwealth in a constitutional replaced with a stand for parliament years later by General
Augusto Pinochet.
until 1919.
replaces the English
Charles I was monarchy. 1642 CE monarchy. 1689 CE republic. 1799 CE Louis XVI, the last 1893 CE 1970 CE
executed king of France
Allende’s presidency
was short-lived
1640 1660 1700 1750 1800 1900 1950 2000 2014
O A monarchy is restored O US constitution written O Secret ballots O Communist governance O Iraq votes once more
After 18 years of rule by The oldest written started begins Following half a century
Oliver Cromwell, with the democratic constitution In the former Australian Following the overthrow of dictatorship, Iraq is
commonwealth making way in the world, the US colony of Tasmania, the of its Tsarist autocracy, restored to a multi-party
for a militarised protectorate, constitution establishes world’s first recorded Russia is transformed democracy, with Iraqis
Cromwell’s son is overthrown a federal system of secret ballot takes into the world’s first voting in elections.
and the English monarchy is government, separating place, kick-starting country to be run 2005 CE
restored. 1660 CE the powers of president, a trend that quickly by a communist
congress and judiciary. spreads worldwide. government. 1917 CE The Russian
Oliver Cromwell 1787 CE 1856 CE Imperial family
First recorded LONE PARTY An Iraqi voter
referendum
SWITZERLAND 1847 GERMANY 1933
A short-lived civil war in Switzerland Democracy was dealt a large
lead to a national referendum, one of blow in the early Thirties with
the earliest recorded uses of this directly Adolf Hitler becoming chancellor
democratic mechanism in history. The and passing the Enabling Bill, a
referendum was used to vote on a new piece of legislation granting him
federal constitution, which was loosely
based on that of the United States. The absolute power. He proceeded
resultant constitution created a central to instate a one-party system,
authority based in Bern, however left the with the Nazi party – known in
country’s cantons (county-style regions) Germany as the National Socialist
free to self-govern on local issues. Today,
Switzerland maintains this heritage, German Workers’ Party – ruling
Switzerland’s first federal palace in Bern holding more referendums than any Following the passing of the unopposed. World War II followed
Enabling Bill, Hitler’s Nazi
other country in the world. party took total power shortly after. © Thinkstock; Alamy

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