It's been a big week on the world's stage!
Since we live on the west coast of the US, my kids and I stayed up late on Tuesday night watching the election results come in. This election was the first where my oldest could vote, and the youngest were able to understand what was happening. I've never seen election results this dramatic, and although we were late for bedtime, it's a memory they can hold for the rest of their lives!
Now I'm holding my breath that there really will be change, and our country will prioritize the needs of children and the vulnerable. Do you ever wonder if anything will really change? Does our concern make a difference?
I don't know the future, but sometimes looking back in the past can give me hope — or not.
The year is 1820. We're in England.
Napoleon was just defeated and we're on the verge of the industrial revolution and colonialism. Britain is consolidating as a world-wide superpower.
What were we debating, and how far have we come?
#1: The Catholic Question
Officially, this came down to whether the oath of office includes language that was specifically protestant and Church of England. In practice, this meant that that Ireland could not access the privileges given to them on paper, because taking the oath of office meant forswearing their Catholic faith, so the Irish people could not be mayors of their own towns, etc, and the Anglo-Irish conquerors continued to maintain power.
✅ We've come a long way on this!
Our legal language and oaths of office no longer require religious affiliation. However, we’ve got to be careful that we are not creating a social expectation around being a Christian nation. That’s becoming increasingly problematic.
#2: The Slave Trade
Slavery had been outlawed on British soil for a generation, and now Britain was debating whether to use its naval power to weaken the slave trade; also, what to do about British plantations in the Caribbean.
✅ We've come a long way on this!
We no longer legally allow slavery, and laws aren't officially divided by race. There is still human trafficking but it isn't legal or widely accepted.
HOWEVER....
❌ We have a long way to go
Let’s acknowledge that Britain was focused on the violence of slavery, not the intrinsic worth of all humans. Centuries of enslavement is not something that disappears quickly. We, as a country, still have to work on racial justice and equity. Inequality by race shows up in almost every metric, from maternal mortality rates through immigration. This is one of the biggest issues dominating politics today.
#3: Women's Rights
Okay, honestly, every time I study this I’m blown away by how NOT far we have come. The first bill in Parliament for women’s vote was in 1831. Two hundred years later, we’re.... debating it all over again? Whoa.
❌ We have a long way to go
Women have more rights on paper, but their ability to access them is still dependent on education, community support, availability of childcare, health care, and so much more. As one example, child marriage laws are on ballots today and is still legal in many states.
#4: Vivisection
Social justice warriors of the early 1800's were fighting to ban operating without anesthesia on live people who did not consent.
✅ We've come a long way on this!
Sometimes the fight for justice works so well we don't even remember it was an issue. But let's not forget what other people, especially Black women, suffered in the meantime.
Back to 2026... So what do you think? Is there hope for making changes that matter?
Sometimes, looking back at the past reminds me of how far we’ve come. We have better education, health, & transportation...all signs of justice.
But other times, I am overwhelmed and stunned by how we're debating almost the same questions.
If you are fighting and hoping for justice today, know that you are walking in the footsteps of so many others. We're fighting for our great-grand-children, the way women, Black people, Quakers, and so many other fought for justice in the Regency period.
And I think they'd be proud.
