June 21st is the solstice for summer so the season is winter in the southern hemisphere.
This is a democracy due to that when this country rose against England, it was motivated to have a say in government and laws which it felt were unfair and had people to give them say in government affairs. Hence, this a representative democracy. Citizens vote for their government officials and the checks and balances prevent one branch from having too much or too little power. These officials represent the citizens' ideas and concerns in government.
Invention of new weapons/gases was HUGE, but Disease and famine was also a large factor