Changes

But Napoleon conquered most of continental Europe in the early 1800s, and after his defeat other nations began to grow in power.  France itself grew again in power under Napoleon III, who was the third son of a stepdaughter of Napoleon.  After several unsuccessful attempts, Napoleon III finally seized power in France after the failed revolutions of 1848 swept Europe.  Napoleon III became emperor of the French in 1852, forming the "Second French Empire" and leading it for nearly twenty years.  (The "First French Empire" was under the first and greatest Napoleon.)   

But Napoleon conquered most of continental Europe in the early 1800s, and after his defeat other nations began to grow in power.  France itself grew again in power under Napoleon III, who was the third son of a stepdaughter of Napoleon.  After several unsuccessful attempts, Napoleon III finally seized power in France after the failed revolutions of 1848 swept Europe.  Napoleon III became emperor of the French in 1852, forming the "Second French Empire" and leading it for nearly twenty years.  (The "First French Empire" was under the first and greatest Napoleon.)   

==== Otto von Bismarck provokes the Franco-Prussian War ====

'''Otto von Bismarck provokes the Franco-Prussian War'''

Otto von Bismarck, a convert to Christianity from atheism, was one of the brilliant political figures in all of history.  After wasting most of his youth, he eventually married and became quite religious.  He rose to power in one of larger Germanic states, Prussia, prior to the formation of the nation of Germany.  Otto von Bismarck invented the concept of "realpolitik", an approach that emphasized practical politics rather than philosophy (this is discussed again below under "Germany").

Otto von Bismarck, a convert to Christianity from atheism, was one of the brilliant political figures in all of history.  After wasting most of his youth, he eventually married and became quite religious.  He rose to power in one of larger Germanic states, Prussia, prior to the formation of the nation of Germany.  Otto von Bismarck invented the concept of "realpolitik", an approach that emphasized practical politics rather than philosophy (this is discussed again below under "Germany").

The last of the English classical economists was John Stuart Mill (1806-1873).  Homeschooled in an atheistic way by his father, Mill supported laissez-faire but with social reforms like redistribution of wealth, shorter working days, and regulation of monopolies.  Today he would be called a “moderate” due to his support of some government controls over the economy.  Mill was ahead of his time in advocating the development of labor unions and farm cooperatives, and emancipation (voting) by women.   

The last of the English classical economists was John Stuart Mill (1806-1873).  Homeschooled in an atheistic way by his father, Mill supported laissez-faire but with social reforms like redistribution of wealth, shorter working days, and regulation of monopolies.  Today he would be called a “moderate” due to his support of some government controls over the economy.  Mill was ahead of his time in advocating the development of labor unions and farm cooperatives, and emancipation (voting) by women.   

Mill advocated utilitarianism, a concept previously proposed by the atheist Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832).  Utilitarianism means that government should do whatever maximizes overall “utility” (benefits minus costs).  If killing one innocent man saves ten other lives, then utilitarianism would favor it.  Under utilitarianism there is no Christian morality, and it is replaced by comparing benefits versus costs.  Under this view government should experiment on embryonic stem cells today if benefits are greater than costs.<ref>John Stuart Mill admitted that his longtime love for a particular woman, who was married to another man for many years, influenced his views about morality, which depart from the Christian view.</ref>  In another book ''On Liberty'', Mill advocated that “the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilised community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others,” which is also contrary to most Christian views.

Mill advocated utilitarianism, a concept previously proposed by the atheist Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832).  Utilitarianism means that government should do whatever maximizes overall “utility” (benefits minus costs).  If killing one innocent man saves ten other lives, then utilitarianism would favor it.  Under utilitarianism there is no Christian morality, and it is replaced by comparing benefits versus costs.  Under this view government should experiment on embryonic stem cells today if benefits are greater than costs.<ref>John Stuart Mill admitted that his longtime love for a particular woman, who was married to another man for many years, influenced his views about morality, which depart from the Christian view.</ref>  In another book ''On Liberty'', Mill advocated that “the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilised<ref>Note that the British spelling is "civilised", while the American spelling of that word is "civilized".</ref> community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others,” which is also contrary to most Christian views.

   

   

'''Socialism'''

'''Socialism'''

There were other new ideas during this time, not all of them good.  There was “utopian socialism,” which English and French philosophers proposed.  In England, Robert Owen (1771-1858) was the leading proponent, while in France Charles Fourier (1772-1837) was the leader.  They suggested the creation of self-contained communities in which the government owned the instruments of production (e.g., land and money) and politics was run by a voluntary, democratic process.   

There were other new ideas during this time, not all of them good.  There was “utopian socialism,” which English and French philosophers proposed.  In England, Robert Owen (1771-1858) was the leading proponent, while in France Charles Fourier (1772-1837) was the leader.  They suggested the creation of self-contained communities in which the government owned the instruments of production (e.g., land and money) and politics was run by a voluntary, democratic process.   

This led to the notion of “socialism” for everyone, not just self-contained communities, also developed as a so-called reform of capitalism.  Under socialism, government owns or controls many factors of production, including business property and money, and also controls the distribution of goods.  The invisible hand is replaced by government control, supposedly for the common good. Workers are able to keep what they make as needed to survive. 

This led to the notion of “socialism” for everyone, not just self-contained communities.  Under socialism, government owns or controls many factors of production, including business property and money, and also controls the distribution of goods.  The invisible hand is replaced by government control, supposedly for the common good.

'''Communism'''

'''Communism'''

German thinkers named Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, who were about to move to England, promoted the radical idea that all private property should be eliminated and that society would be better off under “communism”.  Karl Marx published these ideas in 1848 in a booklet called ''The Communist Manifesto''.  “The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class [economic] struggles,” Marx declared in that book.  Later he developed a motto for communism: “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.”  Marx predicted that the proletariat (working class) would overthrow the wealthy in a capitalistic society, and then establish a new system that would be socialism in its early stage and pure communism in its later stage.  

Two German thinkers, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, who were about to move to England, promoted the radical idea that all private property should be eliminated and that society would be better off under “communism”.  Karl Marx published these ideas in 1848 in a booklet called ''The Communist Manifesto''.  “The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class [economic] struggles,” Marx declared in that book.  Later he developed a motto for communism: “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.”  Marx predicted that the proletariat (working class) would overthrow the wealthy in a capitalistic society, and then establish a new system that would be socialism in its early stage and pure communism in its later stage.  

'''Evolution'''

'''Evolution'''