Evolution of Canadian Law

Criminal Law Abiding

Timeline

___________________________________ l Mosaic Law & Ten Roman Law Greek Law Justinian’s Code Code of Commandments Early British The Feudal System Common Law Quebec Civil Code Magna Carta Napoleonic Code Aboriginal Law The Universal Declaration of Human Rights Law Hammurabi

Babylonia - 1700 BCE

The Code of Hammurabi ▪ ▪ ▪ This is one of the earliest known sets of written laws King Hammurabi codified rules and penalties He covered every aspect of Babylonian life

Hebrew - 1250 BCE

Mosaic Law ▪ ▪ According to the bible, Moses climbed Mount Siani and was given laws for the Hebrew people These codes were the Ten Commandments

Greece

▪ ▪ Draco’s Law 621 BCE Solon’s Law 594 BCE These criminal laws were first codified by Draco They were known for there severity

Rome - 450 BCE

Twelve Tablets ▪ ▪ These laws governed England during the Roman occupation and are considered the base for modern law They were revised as the empire expanded

Byzantine Empire - 529 BCE

Justinian’s Code ▪ ▪ Clarified and codified Roman law Inspired the modern concept of justice

Britain - 1215 CE

Magna Carta ▪ ▪ Known as the great Charter, this document was the first step in establishing basic individual rights It established that even the monarchy was not above the law

The Great Binding Law - 1720 CE

▪ After centuries of laws passed down by word of mouth, the Iroquois Confederacy was codified in the Great Binding Law

France - 1804 CE

Napoleonic Code

▪ ▪ These laws form the basis of the Quebec Civil Code still used today in that province only These laws included wills, property, contracts and family law

Canada - 1892

▪ ▪ The Criminal Code Canadian laws were codified and reflect aspects of many previous codes It involves aspects of Mosaic, Greek, Roman, French, British and Aborigional law

Canada - 1867

The Constitution Act of 1867 ▪ ▪ This act defines and outlines the division of power of the governments in Canada It was originally called The BNA Act

Statute of Westminster - 1931

 This formally put external affairs under the authority of the federal government. Thus, when World War II began in 1939, Canada did not automatically go to war with Britain

United Nations - 1948

The Universal Declaration or Human Rights ▪ Made by the United Nations, these laws outline fundamental rights of people of the world

Canada - 1982

The Constitution Act of 1982 ▪ This act, which included the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, was introduced by Pierre Trudeau in order to patriate the Constitution

Canada - 1982

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms ▪ This Charter defines the rights and freedoms of Canadian citizens

Grade 11 Law Assignment • • • • • • Create a timeline of the development of the Canadian legal system and democracy. A good starting point is the Code of Hammurabi. Go through your text book and scan legal internet sites for key events. You must have a minimum of 30. Each section of the timeline will be accompanied by a visual and a couple key points explaining the significance. Each section will be documented on screen.

For example:

The Code of Hammurabi 1792 – 1750 BCE

• This Code is one of the earliest known sets of written laws. • Many of these laws were based on a system of vengeance.

An example of this is: http://kids.britannica.com/comptons/art-149020/The-diorite-stela-on which-the-Code-of-Hammurabi-is If a son strike his father, his hands shall be hewn off!

http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~wldciv/world_civ_reader/world_civ_reader_1/hammurabi.html