MAY 2020

​Sophie Scholl
May 9, 1921 to February 22, 1943

A martyr for liberal ideals during the rise and height of the Nazi Regime in Germany, Sophie Scholl is known for her role in spreading anti-Nazi materials before her death at the hands of said regime. Scholl was twenty-one years of age at the time of her death and was used as a symbol by allied powers and other anti-Nazi groups. She became inspired to uphold liberal ideas and go against the Nazi regime due to her upbringing as the daughter of a liberal and her exposure to philosophical artists and the like. Once she joined the White Rose Movement, she and her brother had been active in distributing information against the Nazi Party. The White Rose was a non-violent resistance movement that used art and anonymously leaflets to inspire others to resist the party. This movement was short-lived in that all the core members were imprisoned by the Gestapo only to be executed after show trials. Throughout the trials and at her execution Scholl showed defiance. In modern Germany she has been voted the fourth of the most inspirational youths of the 20th century out of a hundred. 

Caroline Chisholm
May 30, 1808 to March 25, 1877 

A champion of human rights, Caroline Chisholm spent her time aiding those who came to Australia to find shelter and stable employment. While at first her focus was primarily young women, she shifted her operations to include young men. Her focus was on the well-being of immigrants since the majority who came to Australia would be left to their own devices and often many would not do well. Seeing that the English government was to blame for the plights of these immigrants Chisholm would sail to England to protest and advocate for immigrants to Australia. During her time in the British Isles she also advocated for the rights of Welsh farmers. Much of what she advocated was also focused on keeping families together, this being one of the major issues for immigrants.

Frederic Passy
May 20, 1822 to June 12, 1912 

Frederic Passy, a pacifist who alongside Henry Dunant won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1901. Passy is best known for his university lectures and several essays written for the advancement of free trade. The university he was known for lecturing at was the University of Montpellier. However, Passy earned his Nobel Prize as an advocate for peace. He wrote several essays on the topic of peace and much of his work was widely known during his time. One such example would be the Historique du Mouvement de la Paix (1905). Defined as the history of the peace movement is a rather lengthy essay on how the worldwide peace movement was formed. It was an argument for peace on a worldwide scale and how it was being accomplished.   ​