could elect tythingmen and hundredors. The United Kingdom 1807: The Slave Trade Act banned the trade across the British Empire after which the U.K. established the Blockade of Africa and enacted international treaties to combat foreign slave traders. 1832: The passing of the Great Reform Act, which gave representation to previously under represented urban areas in the U.K. and extended the voting franchise to a wider population. Followed later in the 19th century and 20th century with several further Reform Acts. 1833: The Slavery Abolition Act was passed, which took effect across the British Empire from 1 August 1834. 1810: 24 of September: Opening session of the Cortes of Cádiz, with representatives of all Spanish provinces, including those in America. 1820: First Cortes Gerais in Portugal under a Constitutional Charter. 1835: Serbia's first modern constitution. 1837: February 3: Local election in South Africa (British colony) in the city of Beaufort West, the first city organizing the election of a municipal council after the Cape Town Ordinance of 1836 (Order 9 from 1836) 1844: The Greek Constitution of 1844 created a bicameral parliament consisting of an Assembly (Vouli) and a Senate (Gerousia). Power then passed into the hands of a group of Greek politicians, most of whom who had been commanders in the Greek War of Independence against the Ottomans. 1848: Universal male suffrage was re-established in France in March of that year, in the wake of the French Revolution of 1848. 1848: Following the French, the Revolutions of 1848, although in many instances forcefully put down, did result in democratic constitutions in some other European countries, among them the German states, Denmark and Netherlands. 1850s: introduction of the secret ballot in Australia; 1872 in UK; 1892 in USA 1853: Black Africans given the vote for the first time in Southern Africa, in the British-administered Cape Province. 1856: USA – property ownership requirements were eliminated in all states, giving suffrage to most adult white males. However, tax-paying requirements remained in five states until 1860 and in two states until the 20th century. 1870: USA – 15th Amendment to the Constitution, prohibits voting rights discrimination on the basis of race, colour, or previous condition of slavery. 1878-80: William Ewart Gladstone's UK Midlothian campaign ushered in the modern political campaign. 1893: New Zealand is the first nation to introduce universal suffrage by awarding the vote to women (universal male suffrage had been in