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'''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 the 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").

An example of Bismarck's brilliant ruthlessness was how he enticed France to declare war on Prussia, such that France appeared to be the aggressor.  This caused other Germanic states to rush to the aid of Prussia.  Bismarck knew that he could defeat France and, because of the unifying effect of the war on the Germanic states, Bismarck could then establish a new nation of Germany.   

An example of Bismarck's brilliant ruthlessness was how he enticed France to declare war on Prussia, such that France appeared to be the aggressor.  This caused other Germanic states to rush to the aid of Prussia.  Bismarck knew that he could defeat France and, because of the unifying effect of the war on the Germanic states, Bismarck could then establish a new nation of Germany.   

Napoleon III fell for the bait, and the war began.  The Prussians and its Germanic allies defeated Napoleon III in a mere six weeks (in 1871), and shipped Napoleon III off to exile in England.  Bismarck then formed the new nation of Germany and Bismarck because its first "Chancellor" (nicknamed the "Iron Chancellor").  Ever since, Germany has been the leading power in continental Europe, rather than France.

Napoleon III fell for the bait, and the war began.  Prussia and its Germanic allies defeated Napoleon III in a mere six weeks (in 1871), and shipped Napoleon III off to exile in England.  Bismarck then formed the new nation of Germany and Bismarck because its first "Chancellor" (nicknamed the "Iron Chancellor").  Ever since, Germany has been the leading power in continental Europe, rather than France.

The European nations grew bigger and stronger in the 1800s and early 1900s.  These industrialized nations (Britain, France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and also the United States and Japan) sought natural resources and raw materials for their factories and new markets to sell their finished goods.  In England and Germany, people who believed in Darwin’s theory of evolution beginning in the mid-to-late 1800s and early 1900s felt a racial superiority and sought conquest (survival-of-the-fittest) to force other races into submission.

The European nations grew bigger and stronger in the 1800s and early 1900s.  These industrialized nations (Britain, France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and also the United States and Japan) sought natural resources and raw materials for their factories and new markets to sell their finished goods.  In England and Germany, people who believed in Darwin’s theory of evolution beginning in the mid-to-late 1800s and early 1900s felt a racial superiority and sought conquest (survival-of-the-fittest) to force other races into submission.

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<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.

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 the word is "civilized".</ref> community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others,” which is also contrary to most Christian views.

   

   

'''Socialism'''

'''Socialism'''