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Wealth of Nations
Published just before the turn of the century, Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations kindled a whole new approach to running a country's economy. Instead of counting how much precious metal a monarchy could accumulate, a country's economic value should be based on what it could produce. Smith went on to describe how countries could increase their wealth with free trade, competition, and limited government interference. His ideas fueled economic policy change in countries all over the world! -
Spanish Wars of Independence
The revolutionary success of their neighbors to the north encouraged colonies in Mexico and Central/South America to declare their independence from - mostly - Spain. In Europe, the Spanish were weakened by Napoleon's invasion, so it seemed a good time to organize and fight back. For twenty-five years, countries won their independence in a series of chain reactions throughout "Spanish America". The gradual success of the wars inspired the Monroe Doctrine in the United States. -
Monroe Doctrine
In his address to Congress, President James Monroe described his plan for protecting the interests of the United States: "separate spheres of influence for the Americas and Europe, non-colonization, and non-intervention". (https://history.state.gov) His words supported newly independent countries and those still fighting for their independence in the Spanish American Wars. Monroe wanted the United States to be the trader leader in Mexico and Central/South America - not Europe. -
Zollverein
Economic ideas such as free trade - especially domestically - became increasing popular in countries all over the world. In Germany, the Zollverein's (customs union) purpose was to create a free trade zone to benefit all members. It began with eighteen states and grew to include almost every part of modern Germany. Many historians see the economic success of the Zollverein as the first significant step toward German unification. -
Women's Suffrage - New Zealand
Women in the early 19th century had very few rights under the law of any land. The first women's rights convention in the United States was in 1848 in Seneca, New York. While they had many concerns, everyone agreed that winning the right to vote would empower women to fight for change in other areas. Suffragists spent the second half of the century campaigning worldwide until New Zealand became the first country to give women the right to vote. The US followed - finally - in 1920.
