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History

By Mike Prestwood
From hominin to sapien to cities.
New looks at history with a focus on science, philosophy, and tolerance.

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History.

3 random tidbits in about 5 minutes.

A History Article.

Subject: United States History of Women’s Rights.

Women’s Rights History in 3 Minutes!.

History shows that when rights are left to the states, they’re often lost, limited, or delayed. Check out the story of women’s rights from gaining the right to property in 1900 to their right to own a business in 1988.

To clarify.

History clearly shows that when basic rights are left solely to the states, they’re often lost, limited, or delayed by the few in power. Historically in America, this means white men from specific backgrounds and usually within a specific faith impose their will on others under the guise of they know best. Federal protections fix this problem and ensure that rights are upheld for everyone.

Now, the details…

This quick history lesson was inspired by a meme I posted on Facebook. I honestly thought the meme was just a little reminder, but I had both liberal and conservative friends ask, is that true?

So, Here we go:

1900: Women Gained Property and Wage Rights
In the early 20th century, various states began passing laws that allowed married women to own property and earn wages independently. This was a significant step towards economic independence. For example, the Married Women’s Property Acts started in the late 19th century and continued to evolve, giving women more control over their finances.

1910: Women Could Wear Pants Socially
Though informal, this marked a cultural shift. The ability for women to wear pants was symbolic of greater freedom and challenge to traditional gender norms.

1920: White Women Could Finally Vote
The 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920, granted women the right to vote, but it primarily benefited white women. Although a landmark achievement, many women of color faced barriers that prevented them from exercising this right.

1963: Women Gained Equal Pay Rights, But It’s Still Questionable
The Equal Pay Act of 1963 aimed to abolish wage disparity based on sex. Despite this legal framework, wage gaps persist. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, women still earn approximately 82 cents for every dollar earned by men (as of 2020).

1965: Black Women Could Finally Vote in All 50 States
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 aimed to eliminate barriers that prevented African Americans from voting, including literacy tests and poll taxes. This act was crucial for empowering Black women, allowing them equal voting rights alongside their white counterparts across all states.

1969: Women Were Allowed to Initiate Divorce
Prior to this, divorce laws favored men, often requiring women to prove wrongdoing. The shift towards no-fault divorce laws allowed women to initiate divorce without stigma or fault, promoting autonomy in personal relationships.

1972: Women Could Get Birth Control Without a Man
The Supreme Court case Eisenstadt v. Baird (1972) established that married and unmarried individuals had the right to access contraception. This decision was pivotal for women’s reproductive rights, granting them control over their own bodies.

1974: Women Could Buy a Home Without a Man
The Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974 prohibited discrimination based on sex in credit transactions. This allowed women to secure loans and buy homes independently, marking a significant shift in financial autonomy.

1988: Women Could Own Their Own Business Without a Man
The Women’s Business Ownership Act of 1988 facilitated women’s ability to start and manage businesses without the need for male co-signers or partners. This legislative change empowered many women to enter the entrepreneurial space.

1994: Women Gained Legal Protection Against Domestic Abuse
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), passed in 1994, provided essential resources and protections for women facing domestic violence. This legislation acknowledged and sought to combat the historical ownership of women by men, promoting safety and independence.

2022: Federal Women’s Health Rights Removed
The Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision overturned Roe v. Wade, eliminating federal protections that encompassed abortion and other critical medical procedures. As a result, women in some states face life-threatening situations, and some have died and many will continue to die simply because state governments restricted necessary healthcare. This decision marked the first time in American history that a previously held federal right was reversed, creating a new landscape where women’s health rights depend on state laws.

Conclusion

This timeline illustrates the progressive steps taken towards women’s rights in the U.S., although it is essential to recognize that many achievements have had uneven impacts across different races and classes. The struggle for equality continues, and understanding this history is vital for ongoing advocacy.

Sources

U.S. Census Bureau, “The Simple Truth About the Gender Pay Gap,” 2020.
National Women’s History Museum, “Timeline of Women’s Rights.”
The Library of Congress, “Women’s Suffrage.”

— map / TST —

Get the full story…

Nothing beats the long-format of a book for clearly telling a grand story. For a deeper exploration of the history of modern human thought and how women’s rights blend with it, check out my new book, “30 Philosophers,” where I tell the story of the greatest ideas that have shaped humanity over the last 5,000 years.

30 Philosophers: A New Look at Timeless Ideas

By Michael Alan Prestwood

Immerse yourself in knowledge, not snippets. Pure inspiration from cover to cover. Dive deeper than headlines and memes and explore the minds of the greatest thinkers.

The story of
humanity’s 80 BEST IDEAS,
and the 30 GIANTS
behind them!

Uncover the wisdom of our best ideas!

Buy now...

That History Article,

was first published on TST 1 year ago.

The flashcard inspired by it is this.

A History Quote.

From History:

Subject: Authority.

Power is the ability to carry out one’s will despite resistance..

Max Weber.
1922, posthumously, edited by Marianne Weber.

Power compels by force and coercian; legitimate authority has no need for either.

Stepping back for a moment.

By distinguishing power from authority, Weber showed that modern systems govern through legitimacy rather than force. When legitimacy is no longer anchored to truth and accountability, authority does not disappear: it hardens into authoritarianism.

Now, the details…

That shortened definition comes from Max Weber. A more accurate translation from the original German is:

“Power is the probability that one actor within a social relationship will be in a position to carry out his own will despite resistance.”

Weber distinguished power from authority. Power is the ability to impose one’s will; authority is power that is perceived as legitimate and therefore obeyed without constant force. This distinction explains why modern institutions rely less on coercion and more on rules, offices, and procedures—and why obedience can feel responsible even when judgment is no longer engaged.

That History Quote,

was first published on TST 2 months ago.

The flashcard inspired by it is this.

Front: What is authoritarianism?

Back: Coercive power (imposed power).

A History Story.

From History:

Subject: Deductive Reasoning.

John Snow and the Broad Street Pump.

The story of John Snow in 1854 reminds us that good reasoning corrects weak patterns by letting confidence follow evidence, not fear or public assumption.

Now to clarify.

John Snow’s Broad Street Pump story shows how belief should change. Public belief blamed bad air, but Snow followed the evidence to contaminated water. Weak induction fed the wrong conclusion; disciplined observation and reasoning corrected it. Confidence became stronger because the explanation fit reality better.

Now, the details…

In September 1854, London was gripped by a deadly cholera outbreak. People were terrified, and for good reason. Cholera killed fast. At the time, the common belief was that the disease spread through “bad air,” or miasma. That idea was not irrational from nowhere. People noticed foul smells around sickness and death, then drew a pattern from it. That was induction — but weak induction. A real pattern was there, but the wrong cause had been attached to it.

John Snow did something different. He followed the cases. He mapped where people were getting sick and noticed that the outbreak clustered around the Broad Street pump. That was personal research in the best sense: observation, comparison, pattern-seeking, and disciplined doubt. He did not simply reject public belief because he wanted to be clever. He tested it against reality.

Then the reasoning sharpened. If bad air was the cause, the cases should spread according to air exposure. But if contaminated water was the cause, the cases should cluster around a shared water source. That is where better induction and deductive reasoning started working together. Snow’s evidence pointed to the pump, and the water explanation explained the pattern better than the air explanation.

This is why the story matters for confidence. Public belief can be wrong. Good authorities can be late. Personal research can help correct the record. But the answer is not rebellion for its own sake. The answer is better contact with reality. Snow earned confidence because his idea was better supported by the evidence.

The lesson is simple: bad patterns can feed public fear, even mass belief, but disciplined reasoning can correct it. Confidence should shift when better evidence earns it. John Snow did not just challenge a bad idea. He showed how belief should change: slowly, carefully, and in proportion to support.

That History Story,

was first published on TST 4 days ago.

The flashcard inspired by it is this.

Front: What is the term for adjusting belief to match the strength of the evidence?

Back: Confidence calibration.

The end. Refresh for another set.

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Writing and coding by Michael Alan Prestwood.