The Basic Law was not developed from nothing, but based on previous democratic tendencies.
smaller groups of person's live together in loose federations (for example Franconia, Alemannen, Saxonia), direct will formation by the people, parts of South Germany belong to the Roman empire
Gradual development to the absolute hereditary monarchy, Karl der Große (~800)
Roman realm of German nation
Feoff state with noble ones and emperor at the top, absolute monarchy, formation of a state with different social status: Aristocracy and clerymen, citizens as well as farmers
Emperor loses power, the aristocracy wins more independence, city federations for example the Hanse attain great economic importance
Religion fights, 30 years of war, the individual national princes prevail independently of the emperor, dividing of the realm in more and more, smaller and smaller units (several hundred small territories in the area of the today's Federal Republic)
Absolutism, formation of larger rule territories, dualism between Prussia and the Habsburger monarchy (Austria)
Federal Constitution of the United States of America, model for later European constitutions
French revolution ("liberty, equality, fraternity"), liberal ideas affect also Germany, in particular in those areas bordering to France
Farmer release in Prussia
During a negotiation at the highest Court of Justice of the US in the case Marbury against Madison the president of the court John Marshall gives a theoretical reason for the requirement of the jurisdiction to check the legislation for agreement with the constitution, an important aspect of the distribution of responsibilities thereby is developed for the first time
Formal dissolution of the German realm as consequence of the wars with Napoleon
Prussian city order with urban autonomy
German Federation, a confederation of states after the Viennese congress
Constitution in Baden
Constitution in Wuerttemberg
Establishment of the German customs union for the creation of a economy unity
Unrests/revolutions in many German states with the goal to establish democratic structures, Paulskirchenverfassung as the first "modern" constitution for the whole Germany with basic right catalog. However durably converting this constitution was not successful, the parliament is dissolved by the national princes by force
Constitution in Prussia
Prussian - Austrian war, in the consequence Austria withdraws from the German Federation
North German Federation as Federal State under the guidance of Prussia
In the consequence of the French-German war the states of South Germany join the North German Federation
2. German Empire as Federal State under Prussian guidance, realm constitution considerably determined by the princes, industrial revolution and associated social tensions, start of social legislation, emergence of the BGB (1900)
1. World war leads to the dissolution of the 2nd German Empire, November revolution 1918
Weimar Republic, designated according to the meeting place of the constitution-giving national assembly, with a constitution from the wording similarly to the Basic Law, however with basic rights catalog only in the context of the laws and not above the laws and without protective mechanisms, no support of the democracy in the people, increasing radicalization because of economic problems
Inflation, internal unrests and revolts
Establishment of the League of Nations (-1939), the forerunner organization of the UN (since 1945)
Economical illusory bloom owing to economic aids in particular from the US
Gradual decay of the Weimar Republic, unemployment, bad economic layer, world economic crisis
Time of the Nazis, Hitler dictatorship, Germany central steered unit state, human rights are systematically hurt and ignored, the basic rights are set out of strength
2. World war
On 8 May the surrender of the third realm takes place, Germany is divided in four zones of occupation and governed by the victorious states
Union of the three western zones to an economical unit
01.09.1948 - 23.05.1949 Parliamentary advice for the production of the Basic Law. The Parliamentary advice consisted of 70 members elected by the parlaments of the Laender. Its chairmann was Konrad Adenauer who later became the first chancellor
Establishment of the Federal Republic of Germany within the range of the three west zones
The Basic Law (GG) which was enacted upon expiration of the 23.05., is affected intense by the Weimar constitution. The formation of the federal organs finished at 20.09.1949, however special rights of the Allies exist
Establishment of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) within the range of the Soviet zone (07.10.1949)
Establishment of the Council of Europe
On 9 December the population in the area of today's Baden-Wuerttemberg (in the countries Wuerttemberg-Baden, Baden and Wuerttemberg-Hohenzollern) vote for the formation of the southwest state
On 11 November the national constitution of Baden-Wuerttemberg is adopted by the constitution-giving state meeting
The Federal Republic joins the NATO
The Saarland, after the end of the war with special status, is integrated into the Federal Republic
Roman contracts for the establishment of the EEC, a forerunner community of the European union
Building of the Wall within Berlin and the German domestic border
The Federal Republic and the German Democratic Republic join the UN
Opening of the German Democratic Republic border on 9 November
The GDR joins the Federal Republic of Germany according to Article 23 GG - old version - on 3 October. Federal Republic as a sovereign state
Treaty on the European union (Treaty of Maastricht)
Introduction of the euro as actual currency
Enlargement of the EU upon 25 states (May 2004)