No doubt, Louis XIV's embrace of Dutch revolutionaries in 1787 made sense to him. After expensive wars and unintelligent fiscal policy, the royal coffers were empty. Not did he have the public on his side, having failed to introduce an unpopular uniform land tax. On top of this, the past twenty years had comprised of bad harvests and soaring bread prices, and Louis' position was looking unstable.
Read moreA Beacon of Liberty: America's Off the Table Topic
The nation that inspired Continental Europe to fight more fervently than ever for its liberties was far from flawless on this measure. Before 1860, the Northern states had made steps toward abolishing slavery, but the practice was alive and well in the South.
Despite most states in America at the time protecting press freedoms and free speech, Southern legislators proved intolerant of any debate on the topic of their favourite institution - human chattel. The abolitionist movement began in earnest around 1830 - by 1836, a sweeping Virginia law criminalised all publications that might persuade "persons of colour … to rebel".
Read moreWWI: Remembering the Sacrifice
While remembering WWI it strikes me that in the important modern day conversation around sexism the historical expendability of men goes almost entirely unmentioned.
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