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"Theologico-Political Treatise"
"Theologico-Political Treatise" is a philosophical text by Baruch Spinoza. It was published in 1670, thus making him one of the early Enlightenment thinkers. He believes that freedom of speech is an innate right. Spinoza’s work is significant as it questions traditional authority. His ideas represent a changing society; as the Enlightenment progressed, scholars began to challenge the status quo and demand rights, such as freedom of press. -
"The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen"
"The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen" was published by the National Assembly of France in August of 1789. This legal document forever changed contemporary polity; for the first time in France, all men were granted universal suffrage. The document highlights the efforts of the French Revolution in demanding for political change and equality. The breakdown of the Old Régime is visible here, as privileges no longer determine who can participate in political life. -
"The British Factory Act"
"The British Factory Act" was passed in 1833, towards the end of England’s first Industrial Revolution, in an attempt to protect working children. This law is significant as it paved the way for other factory reforms in England. However, it is important to note that the mistreatment of children in the workforce did not instantly stop once the act was implemented. Men, women, and children well into the 20th century continued to fight for their worker’s rights. -
"Mein Kampf"
Adolf Hitler published "Mein Kampf" in 1925, fourteen years before the start of the Second World War. This philosophical autobiography and political treatise expresses Hitler's racist theories against Jews, communists, and socialists. This book is significant as it allows historians to understand and study the origins of the Nazi regime and the Second World War. The text explains the key components of Nazism, which quickly spread across Germany in the 1930s.