The key idea of the French Revolution is the transformation of the political and social structures of France, fundamentally driven by principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity. These principles aimed to dismantle the absolute monarchy and the feudal system, replacing them with a more democratic and egalitarian society. Here are the core elements of this transformation:
1. Liberty 2. Equality 3. Fraternity 4. Secularism 5. Democracy These ideas were inspired by Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Montesquieu, who advocated for the principles of individual rights, the social contract, and the separation of powers. The French Revolution profoundly influenced the course of modern history, inspiring subsequent movements for […]
The United States’ involvement in World War II was marked by several controversies, both leading up to and during its participation in the conflict. Here are some of the key points of contention:
1. Isolationism vs. Interventionism 2. Pearl Harbor Attack 3. Japanese-American Internment 4. Decision to Use Atomic Bombs 5. Allied Conduct of the War 6. Post-War Influence and Geopolitics These controversies reflect the complexities and difficult decisions faced by the United States during World War II, highlighting the tension between national interests, moral considerations, and the […]
Nullification then and now
Nullify: To make legally null and void; invalidate Today I was at the Constitutional Literacy Institute hosted at Utah Valley University. Stephen Steinbach. He is an editor on the book With Liberty and Justice For All? He spoke to us about nullification historically and in the present. He highlighted the nullification crisis during Jackson’s presidency. […]
Life of Romans
Daily life in ancient Rome was diverse and varied significantly depending on one’s social status, occupation, and location. Here is an overview of different aspects of daily life for Romans: Social Structure Family Life Housing Daily Activities Food and Dining Clothing Entertainment and Leisure Education Religion Public Life and Politics Military Service Economy and Trade […]
James Madison on Property, 1792
I am taking part in the Constitutional Literacy Institute at UVU next week and they have given us valuable readings on the constitution to prepare. This link contains James Madison’s 1792 writing on property Here are some of my thoughts from the reading. What may sometimes be overlooked by individuals who do not have a […]
U.S. Involvement in World War I
The United States’ involvement in World War I was driven by a combination of factors, including political, economic, and social pressures. Here are the key causes: 1. Unrestricted Submarine Warfare 2. Zimmermann Telegram 3. Economic Interests 4. Ideological and Political Factors 5. Allied Propaganda 6. Domestic Politics Summary The U.S. involvement in World War I […]
Notes on Homo Deus
Homo Deus by Yuval Harari was a book that largely shifted my mindset. It has led me to see the possibilities for the future in a different light. Harari uses his knowledge of history to predict the future. He highlights possibilities for genetic modification, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JV5YisKWiaWxM3–w4nX6bWHNfItwIqhfZDAYFGyHec/edit?usp=sharing The link has footnotes indicating which idea is on which […]
Notes on Education for Democracy
The book Education for Democracy was written by two of my professors, one of whom (Ryan Knowles) is my dissertation adviser. Here are my notes for the book. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JV5YisKWiaWxM3–w4nX6bWHNfItwIqhfZDAYFGyHec/edit?usp=sharing Too often civic education encourages simplistic deliberation over pros and cons from a stance of objectivity – if the issues of our time are this simply […]
Notes on Dark Money
Here are my notes on the book Dark Money by Jane Mayer. She outlines a lot of the history of the Koch Brothers. This is a valuable book for understanding the astroturf The link contains footnotes. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IrquiNhOaGZg81JBxQhlEqWz-DicTk5kB0AseeEs8cI/edi The third largest refinery in the third reich was created by the collaboration between Davis and Koch.” […]
Immigration
I wanted to share a recent conversation on immigration with Krystal and Saager. I included another video with Ryan Grim and Oren Cass on immigration.