The term "the West" originally referred to the Western Roman Empire, which emerged after the division of the Roman Empire by Emperor Diocletian in 286 CE. This division was intended to stabilize governance across the vast empire, creating two administrative regions: the Western Roman Empire, with its capital eventually in Ravenna, and the Eastern Roman Empire, centered in Constantinople. The Western Roman Empire, ultimately collapsed in 476 CE when the last emperor, Romulus Augustulus, was deposed by Odoacer.
In modern political contexts, "the West" refers to a group of states primarily in Western Europe that were among the first to colonize other parts of the world, industrialize, and adopt capitalism. These states also developed distinct cultural and political systems during this period, including early republics in some cases. The term has since expanded to include former British colonies such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand—countries that share similar economic structures and cultural traits—and the United States, which also aligns closely with these characteristics. Together, these nations are characterized by their shared history of industrialization, market-based economies, and cultural values shaped by their colonial and capitalist legacies.
The "west" differs from Europe as Europe is split into North, South, East and West Europe with fro eg Russia in East Europe. Europe being a much llarger area comprising 50 states wiki
Australia
- 1901: Federation of six British colonies into the Commonwealth of Australia1
- Constitutional monarchy with a written constitution1
- Federal system with states1
- Bicameral parliament (House of Representatives and Senate)1
- Monarchy ongoing (King Charles III as head of state)1
Austria, Republic of
- Before becoming the Austrian Empire, it was a collection of Habsburg hereditary lands united under the Holy Roman Empire
- The Austrian Empire was proclaimed in 1804 by Francis II in response to Napoleon's declaration of the French Empire14.
- It became the Austro-Hungry in 1867
- Austro-Hungry King assissinated 1914
- WWI begins & Germany & Austro-Hungry lose WWWI
- 1918: Dissolution of Austro-Hungarian Empire, establishment of First Austrian Republic2
- 1934-1938: Austrofascist period2 An authoritarian, right-wing government that opposed both Nazism and liberal democracy.
- 1938 annexed by NAZI Germany
- Fought with NAZI Germany in AXIS in WWII
- 1945: Re-establishment of democratic republic after World War II2
- Federal republic with a written constitution2
- Bicameral parliament (National Council and Federal Council)2
Belgium
- 1830: Independence from the Netherlands4
- Constitutional monarchy with a written constitution4
- Federal system with regions and communities4
- Bicameral parliament (Chamber of Representatives and Senate)4
- Monarchy ongoing (King Philippe)4
Canada
- The Constitutional Act of 1791 establishes legislative assemblies of Upper and Lower Canada
- British North America Act of 1867: establishes federal parliament of Canada a Confederation of four British colonies1
- Constitutional monarchy with a written constitution1
- Federal system with provinces and territories1
- Bicameral parliament (House of Commons and Senate)1
- Monarchy ongoing (King Charles III as head of state)1
Denmark
- 1849: Transition from absolute to constitutional monarchy37
- Constitutional monarchy with a written constitution37
- Unitary state3
- Unicameral parliament (Folketing)3
- Monarchy ongoing (King Frederik X)5
France, Republic of
- France was a kingdom
- King calls assembly for war funds 1789
- Assembly turns into 1789 French Revolution establish 1st republic
- Revolution ends & Napolean establishes dictatorship 1799
- 2nd republic established 1848 after being the only European anti monarchy revolution to succeed
- France goaded into war with Franco Prussian war 1870: and loses . Third Republic established2
- Vichy France established as a state controlled by NAZIs after its defeat by NAZIs 1940
- End of WWII
- 4th republic established 1946 - 1958
- 1958: Establishment of the Fifth Republic2
- Unitary semi-presidential republic with a written constitution2
- Bicameral parliament (National Assembly and Senate)2
- Monarchy ended in 18702
Germany, Republic of
- Prussia is a collection of independent states and principalities and kingdoms here
- Prussia wins Austro-Prussian war
- Prussian chancellor Otto von Bismarck deliberately provoked the French into declaring war on Prussia to unify the various states & kingdoms.
- 1871 Proclamation of the German Empire after winning Franco Prussian war
- Kaiser Wilhelm II is installed as as
King of Prussia and Emperor of Germany from 1888 to 1918 Archduke Franz Ferdinand , the heir to Austro-Hungarian throne is assassinated- leads to WWI 1914
- Germany and Austro-Hungry defeated in WWI 1918
- Monarchy ended in 1918
- 1919-1933: Weimar Republic
- Hitler sets himself up as Fuhrer of the NAZI regime
- NAZI Germany goes to war in 1939 and loses in 1945
- Germany split between east USSR and west allied control
- 1949: Establishment of Federal Republic of Germany in the West
- has a constitution, called the Basic Law ("Grundgesetz"), adopted in 1949 for West Germany and extended to unified Germany in 19904.
- Physical wall is built 1961
- Wall comes down in 1989 and Germany unified in 1971
- Federal parliamentary republic with a written constitution
- Bicameral parliament (Bundestag and Bundesrat)
- Has a chancellor, who serves as the head of government [not prime minister]
Ireland, Republic of
- Invaded by the anglo-normans 1167 partially colonised
- Invaded again by Cromwell 1649-1651
- Invaded by King Henry VIII invades1536 and establishes Crown of Ireland act and kingdom of Ireland. This is the full colonisation of Ireland.
- Rebellions in 1798 after USA and French revolutions - fails
- Revolution in 1818 during Europes anti monarchy revolutions -fails
- Easter rising revolution during WWI fails
- Easter rising deaths leads to 1919-1921 revolution ending in ceasefire agreement
- King 1922: Independence from the United Kingdom1
- 1937: Current constitution adopted1
- Monarchy ended in 1949 (left the Commonwealth)1
- Unitary parliamentary republic with a written constitution1
- Bicameral parliament (Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann)1
Israel
The Creation of the State of Israel (1867–1948)
- 1867: Ottoman Empire allows foreigners to purchase land in Palestine
- Zionist movement emerges in late 19th century
- First Aliyah (1882–1903): Jewish immigration to Palestine begins
- By 1880, Palestine's Jewish population reaches 25,000
- Balfour Declaration (1917) supports Jewish national home in Palestine
- Jewish immigration waves continue (Second to Fourth Aliyah)
- Arab-Jewish tensions grow; Arab Revolt (1936–1939)
- Jewish paramilitary groups (Irgun, Lehi) conduct terrorist attacks
- Turns into civil war 1947
- UN passes resolution to divide Palestine into Jewish and Arab states
- Plan accepted by Jewish leaders, rejected by Arab leaders
- Allocates 56.47% of land to Jewish state, 42.88% to Arab state
- May 14, 1948: David Ben-Gurion declares State of Israel
- Arabs attempt stop israel taking the other 52% of land Arab-Israeli War (1948–1949) begins
- By 1949, Israel controls 78% of Mandatory Palestine
- 1956 Suez Crisis- attacks Egypt and Palestine again
- 1967 Six-Day War: Israel attacks egypt and Palestine again -occupies Gaza, West Bank, Golan Heights
- 1973 Yom Kippur War- Arab retaliation to regain land.
- Israel occupies most of West Bank and Golan Heights
- Gaza blockaded since 2006
- Parliamentary democracy
- 120-member Knesset
- President as ceremonial head of state
- Prime Minister leads executive branch
- Independent judiciary
- No formal constitution; governed by Basic Laws
Italy , Reublic of
- is a collection of states of kingdoms and Grand Duchy of Tuscany and papal states
- after wars between states and diplomacy Italy was mostly united under Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont of Victor Emmanuel II 1861
- Italy becomes constitutional monarchy
- 1866, Italy allied with Prussia during the Austro-Prussian War and annexed Veneto after Austria's defeat.
- Troops march on Rome 1871 and annex Rome
- 1946: Monarchy ended ,Transition to republic
- Unitary parliamentary republic with a written constitution4
- Bicameral parliament (Chamber of Deputies and Senate)4
Luxemberg
- 963: Count Siegfried acquires the fortress of Lucilinburhuc, founding Luxembourg
- 1083: Conrad I becomes first Count of Luxembourg
- 1354: Luxembourg elevated to a duchy within the Holy Roman Empire
- 1443: Duchy passes to the Habsburgs
- 1795-1814: Annexed by France
- 1815: Congress of Vienna establishes Luxembourg as a Grand Duchy
- 1839: Treaty of London defines Luxembourg's current borders
- 1867: Luxembourg gains full independence
- 1890: Nassau-Weilburg dynasty begins rule
- 1919: Universal suffrage introduced
- 1944: Liberation from Nazi occupation
- 1957: Luxembourg becomes founding member of the European Economic Community
Constitutional monarchy (Grand Duchy)
Unicameral parliament (Chamber of Deputies)
60 members elected for 5-year terms
Council of State:
21 councillors appointed by the Grand Duke
Consultative body for legislation and regulations
Unicameral parliament (Chamber of Deputies)
60 members elected for 5-year terms
Council of State:
21 councillors appointed by the Grand Duke
Consultative body for legislation and regulations
Netherlands , kingdom of
- Medieval: Collection of small feudal states
- 1516: Habsburg control, part of Spanish Empire
- 1568-1648: Dutch Revolt, formation of Dutch Republic
- 17th Century: Golden Age, global maritime power
- 1795-1815: French influence, Napoleonic era
- 1815: Kingdom of the Netherlands established
- 1830: Belgian independence
- 1848: Constitutional monarchy introduced
- 20th Century: WWII occupation, post-war modernization
- Parliamentary constitutional monarchy
- Monarch as ceremonial head of state
- Prime Minister leads executive branch
- Bicameral parliament (States General)
- Independent judiciary
New Zealand
- Maori design a flag for their nation 1834
- 1835 He Whakaputanga o te Rangitiratanga o Nu Tureni aka declaration of independence by Maori
- 1840: Ti Tiriti o Waitangi aka Treaty of Waitangi signed , a partnership between Maori nation and Queen
- NZ Government formed 1852
- Ministers of Parliament elected 1856
- Goes to war against Maori and wins
- Confiscates aka steals, millions of acres land
- 1907: Dominion status within British Empire6
- 1947: independence declared with Full independence6
- Waitangi Tribunal declared in 2014 Maori did not cede sovereignty
- Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy6
- Unicameral parliament (House of Representatives)6
- Monarchy ongoing (King Charles III as head of state)6
- ACT party in minor liberal party a coalition govt introduces Treaty Principals Bill to try to nullify the founding document the Ti Tiriti , finalise colonisation and turn NZ into a liberal democracy.
Norway
- 1814: Constitution adopted, union with Sweden1
- 1905: Independence from Sweden1
- Constitutional monarchy with a written constitution1
- Unitary state1
- Unicameral parliament (Storting)1
- Monarchy ongoing (King Harald V)1
Portugal , Republic of
- County of Portugal 898- 1139
- Kingdom of portugal 1139-1910
- 1910: Overthrow of monarchy, establishment of First Republic4 until,
- 1926-1974: Estado Novo dictatorship4
- 1974: Carnation Revolution, transition to democracy4
- Unitary semi-presidential republic with a written constitution4
- Unicameral parliament (Assembly of the Republic)4
Spain
- 1812: First liberal constitution (short-lived)4
- 1931-1939: Second Spanish Republic4 in end is the Spanish Civil War 1936-1939 which fascist Franco wins
- 1939-1975: Franco Fascist dictatorship4
- 1978: Current democratic constitution adopted4
- Constitutional monarchy with a written constitution4
- Quasi-federal system with autonomous communities4
- Bicameral parliament (Congress of Deputies and Senate)4
- Monarchy restored in 1975 (King Juan Carlos I)4
Sweden
- 1809: Adoption of Instrument of Government1
- 1974: Current constitution adopted1
- Constitutional monarchy with a written constitution1
- Unitary state1
- Unicameral parliament (Riksdag)1
- Monarchy ongoing (King Carl XVI Gustaf)1
Switzerland, the state of
- 1291: Old Swiss Confederacy formed2
- 1848: Modern federal state established2
- Federal republic with a written constitution2
- Bicameral parliament (National Council and Council of States)2
- Never had a monarchy in its current form2
United Kingdom
- 1215: Magna Carta limits monarchical power
- King calls parliament for funds 1640
- Short dismissed and then long parliament called and doesnt leave -leads to
- 1642 civil war
- Cromwell wins civil war & installs republic 1949
- Restoration of monarchy 1660
- 1689: Bill of Rights establishes constitutional monarchy
- 1707: Act of Union forms the Kingdom of Great Britain
- 1832: Reform Act expands voting rights
- 1911: Parliament Act reduces power of the House of Lords
- 1928: Equal Franchise Act grants equal voting rights to women
- 1998: Scotland Act and Government of Wales Act establish devolved parliaments
- 2022: Charles III becomes king following the death of Queen Elizabeth II46
United States of America , the republic of
- 1776: Declaration of Independence from Great Britain
- 1787: Constitution adopted, establishing a federal republic of USA of 13 states
- 1788: Constitution ratified, creating a bicameral legislature (House of Representatives and Senate)
- 1st 10 constitutions amendments are written & are equivalent to [Britains] Bill of Rights
- 1789: George Washington becomes the first president
- 11 USA states seceded from USA union over slavery 1860-1861 - civil war begins
- 1865: Civil War ends, abolishing slavery. Confederacy ends
- 1870: 15th Amendment grants voting rights to African American men
- 1920: 19th Amendment grants women the right to vote
- 1965: Voting Rights Act strengthens democracy by prohibiting racial discrimination in voting3
- 1971: 26th Amendment lowers voting age to 183
Comments
Post a Comment