History of Democracy

Solon and Cleisthenes presented the idea of Democracy in Athens, which let people have a say on what would happen. But, there was a catch, only men who were citizens could vote. Some really old person named Plato didn't like the idea of democracy and Aristotle said that Democracy would only work when everyone has a say.

The Roman emperors didn't like the idea of democracy. They though less of the people.

In the Middle Ages, Europe's ruling system was based on Monarchy and Aristocracy. Democracy had been completely forgotten.

Iceland had formed a paliament.

The people of England forced the king sign the Magna Carta. whichgave the people more rights and the king less power.

People in the U.S. wrote up a new constitution for their country, meanwhile, the French rebelled and started a Revolution. The Revolution was successful! It gave power back to the people..... until Napoleon took it away!

More and more countries became a democracy, and people started to fight about who would get to vote.

There were wars happening. People knew that this isn't what democracy was supposed to bring. Here are the words of Roosevelt: "Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education." James Bovard also said: "Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner."

These days, democracy still isn't at it's best. A lot of people don't even know what they're voting for, which is a real problem, but at least we have the choice!