The CW was noted for being the first nation to adopt democracy on such a scale. Very similar to Greece's democratic city-states, the Commonwealth had made a number of improvements to the system to make dealing with hundreds of cities each electing representatives more manageable. The Commonwealth's leadership was elected in mass voting. Like Rome, political parties were not permitted in the constitution. Slavery was abolished and the penal colonies were converted or demolished. Most of those freed were given easy citizenship to the Commonwealth and were a strong resource in making expansions and establishing population centres in the west. The first settlements on the west coast were established in 1680(927). The Commonwealth's territory reached the northern parts of the west coast before