Chapter 17 Documents

Chapter 17 Documents

In chapter 17 documents the reading was about the Industrial Revolution. Within these documents they offer insight as to how a certain individual felt about a certain situation or event that was happening in their lives. Reading these documents is very insightful because I can relate to it on a personal and emotional level while the more general chapter reading is more factual and less emotional. The first document discusses the experience of and English factory worker and discusses that how while the Industrial Revolution came not only technological changes but also changes to the workforce and how people worked their jobs. Additionally, the next document goes on to talk about a certain type of job that was destroyed during the Industrial Revolution. This document is about the life of a weaver and how they their profession suffered during this time period. The next document goes on to talk about the infamous Karl Marx and how his ideas of socialism were revolutionary. The documents then go on to present the reader with images of what life was like during this time period. These images offer insight into how the Industrial Revolution impacted peoples live but also how it changed the shape of the environment. These images show the transformation overtime of how the industrial revolution had such an tremendous impact on the people living during this time.

Chapter 17 (pages 827 - 861)

Chapter 17 (pages 827 – 861)

The Industrial Revolution was the start of using fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas that replaced the reliance on endlessly renewable energy sources of wind, water, wood and the muscle power of people and animals. The industrial revolution started in the 18 century and not only did the reliance of fossil fuels begin but also innovations transformed the cotton textile production. Agriculture was also affected because chemicals fertilizers, pesticides and refrigeration became a major part of this industry and transformed its way of life. The industrial revolution grew into the 20^th century and involved a number of developing countries: Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The industrial revolution was the beginning to a continuous growth of new techniques and way of life that changed the environment forever.

Further into the chapter, Strayer discusses Britain during this time period and how its political life encouraged commercialization and economic innovation. Additionally, how religious toleration changed and people of other faiths were being more welcomed. He then goes on to discuss how the Scientific Revolution that occurred in Great Britain supported technological innovation. The technological innovations that occurred from the Scientific Revolution and on were revolutionary to Britain but also to other countries who looked to Britain for inspiration. However, most of the people who benefited from the industrial revolution were members of the middle class. The middle class itself was separated into people who were extremely wealthy factory and mine owners to bankers and merchants. In the middle class women all shared particularly the same role of being homemakers, wives and mothers.

Stayer then goes on to talk about the second half of the nineteenth century and how many countries were beginning to stabilize in their economy and growth. The technological innovations that were occurring during these time periods helped cut the sailing time between Britain and Argentina into almost half. This then allowed for things (goods and people) to move from place to place a lot quicker. The most significant economic outcome that came from this was the rapid growth of Latin America exports to the new industrializing economies. During this time Mexico was also supplying large amounts of silver to more than half of the world. Therefore, the industrial revolution that occurred was the beginning of dramatic change into how people lived their lives and the efficiency and pace at which their lives were to continue.

Chapter 16 - Atlantic Revolutions & Documents

Chapter 16 – Atlantic Revolutions, Global Echoes and Documents

Atlantic Revolutions (pages 798- 811):

During this chapter Strayer discusses what happened during the Atlantic Revolution and how these changes greatly impacted the world. A major change that occurred during this time period was the abolishment of slavery. During this time, the Enlightenment thinkers had become increasingly critical of slavery as a violation of the natural rights of every person. This idea of antislavery was first expressed by the Quakers and then by the Protestant evangelicals in Britain and the U.S. This sparked people to believe that slavery was wrong and a “crime in the sight of God” which ultimately lead to more people accepting that slavery as not essential for economic progress. In addition, the dramatic but successful Haitian Revolution was then followed by three rebellions were slavery was frowned upon and abolished because people felt that it was not only morally wrong but also economically inefficient and politically unwise. This type of thinking and change that occurred during this time was revolutionary in so many aspects. Strayer also goes on to talk about nations and nationalism and how slavery abolishment also gave way to a relatively recent kind of human community – by nation. Additionally, the Atlantic Revolutions also gave rise to the beginning of feminism and foreshadowed the future of equality between men and women.

Documents (pages 812 – 825):

16.1 – This document was about the French Revolution and the “Rights of a Man.” It is about the language of rights that were found and expressed during the French Revolution in the Declaration of the Rights of a Man and Citizen. It talks about that document was made in the French National Assembly and has long been viewed as the philosophical core of the French Revolution.

16.2 – This document was about the Rights and National Independence and how the “rights of a man” could be mobilized on behalf of colonial subjects. The most prominent political military leader of the struggle during this time period was Simon Bolivar. He wanted to create a federation among the Latin American countries like the U.S. The document “The Jamaica Letter” is his case for independence of his continent.

16.3 – This document was about rights and slavery. The document “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” is about Fredrick Douglas and his famous speech that forcefully highlighted that great contradiction in the new American nation.

16.4 – This document is about the Rights of Women and is about how during the French Revolution, women’s rights were heavily debated. “The Solitude of Self” is about Elizabeth Cady Stanton and her address of women’s rights to the U.S congress committee.

Sisters of Notre Dame

During this week there has been numerous events in honor of founders week. During this time I was able to learn more about our founders and how NDNU came to be the school it is today. Along with that this reading about the two founders, Julie Billiart and Francoise Blin de Bourdon. These two unlikely friends became the very reason for the existence of this school. This reading was particularly interesting to me because I felt like I could relate to Julie and the fact that she came from not having a lot to doing something extraordinary with her life and for other peoples lives as well. What was also interesting to me was the fact that Francoise came from a lot of money and lived a privileged life, but decided to make something of herself and help found education for people instead of going down the path that most people she knew went down. Additionally, the time period in which these women lived, it was hard for them to make something of themselves or become anything other than what their lives were already planned to be, so the fact that they made their own decisions about their future was a revolutionary thing to do. This also made me have more respect for them and really appreciate that this school I attend was fought so hard for and these women spent so much time and energy into building a place of education and to help others.

Founders Week Activity

Founders Week Activity

Matthew Fox Speech

On Tuesday, February 9, 2016, I attended a talk by Matthew Fox in the chapel. During this talk Matthew talked about how he came to meet Sister Dorothy Stang and how that impacted his life. Matthew Fox’s talk started off with talking about how you can’t base religion off of sin. He also went on to talk about how he became interested in the church and how his life changed from there. He had a dream that his mother was dying and when he awoke and realized his mother wasn’t dying he realized that his dream was a bigger message for the dying of Mother Earth. From then on he became an influential person in the church and decided to help give back to the community. One of the things that Matthew talked about and that really spoke to me was about his journey to the Amazon. He talked about how the people inhabiting these areas wanted to save the Amazon forest and he wanted to help with the efforts of the Amazon much like Dorothy Stang wrote about in her book. He specifically talked about the lessons of the Amazon and how place symbolized the the chapel: the tree in the backyard and how many indigenous people died trying to protect the Amazon forest.  When he talked about how many people died trying to protect the forest that really spoke to me because the people who grew up and lived their whole lives in the forest were now having their homes taken away but also their lives taken away as well. This talk was very influential and made me think about my life and how thankful I am to live where I do. But it also made realize how different things are on other sides of the planet and how we need to help them against the people who are trying to hurt their homeland. Therefore, it brings awareness to the people here at NDNU and they can share these stories with other people.