Wednesday, March 18, 2020

The Immigration of Mennonites to Canada essays

The Immigration of Mennonites to Canada essays Immigration to Canada: The Mennonites When the Mennonites started to flee Europe it was because of severe persecution from the Catholics and Protestants. The Mennonites religion was seen as bad because it was different from their own. The Mennonites believe that a church is a group of voluntary adults, which are baptized on their own confession of faith. No children are baptized until they understand their religion and can say they wish to fully be apart of it. For only the reason that the Mennonites didnt share the same beliefs as them, they were forced from their homes. Four thousand Mennonites were murdered by the Catholics and Protestants in Europe, most of these deaths were by burning or drowning. Clearly these people had to flee Europe to save their lives and the lives of their families. This was the reason behind the first group of people that came to settle in North America. The first major wave of immigrants to North America arrived in 1683 and settled in Georgetown, Philadelphia, which is the oldest Mennonite settlement in North America. The next small wave of settlers was in the 1700s; they all first arrived in Philadelphia so it became the port of preference for Mennonites. The first Mennonites to arrive in Canada arrived in 1786 when they came from Pennsylvania. They had to flee from the states because they were being persecuted there because of their pacifism during the American Revolution. Canada also had much more to offer including the western agricultural frontier and much better minority rights. Approximately two thousand Mennonites travelled from Pennsylvania to Ontario between the years of 1786 and 1825. The second migration to Canada was when around 7000 Russian Mennonites came to Canada in the 1870s. They came in search for land to farm and on the frontier. Two large reserves were made available to the settlers as soon as they had arrived, two more were made i...

Monday, March 2, 2020

Berenguela of Castile

Berenguela of Castile About Berenguela of Castile Known for: role in the succession of Castile and Leon; regent of Castile for her brother Enrique I Occupation: briefly, queen of LeonDates: January/June 1, 1180 - November 8, 1246Also known as: Berengaria of Castile More About Berenguela of Castile Berenguela was born to King Alfonso VIII of Castile and Eleanor Plantagenet, Queen of Castile. An arranged marriage to Conrad II of Swabia did not happen; he was murdered in 1196 before the marriage was held. Berenguelas Marriage In 1197, Berenguela was married instead to Alfonso IX of Leon, her dowry including lands were settlement of a conflict between Leon and Castile. In 1198, the Pope excommunicated the couple on grounds of consanguinity. The couple had five children before they dissolved the marriage in 1204 to remove their excommunication. Berenguela moved back to her fathers Castilian court, with her children. Berenguela and Castile When her father, Alfonso VIII, died in 1214, her mother Eleanors grief was so great that Berenguela had to handle the burial of Alfonso. Eleanor died less than a month after her husband did. Berenguela then became regent for her young brother, Enrique (Henry) I. Enrique died in 1217, killed by a falling roof tile. Berenguela, the eldest daughter of Alfonso VIII, renounced her own claim to the throne in favor of her son, Ferdinand III, later to be canonized as Saint Ferdinand. Berenguela and Alfonso IX - Battles Over Succession Berenguelas former husband, Alfonso IX, believed he had the right to rule Castile, and he attacked Berenguela and Ferdinand who won the battle. Berenguela and Alfonso IX also fought over who would succeed Alfonso in Leon. He wanted his daughters by his first wife to be preferred in the succession. Alfonso tried to marry one of these elder daughters to John of Brienne, a French nobleman and crusader who had been named King of Jerusalem. But John selected instead Berenguela of Leon, a daughter of Alfonso by his second wife Berenguela of Castile. Some of their descendents became Englands House of Lancaster. Unification Under Ferdinand When Alfonso IX of Leon died in 1230, Ferdinand and his mother Berenguela negotiated a settlement with Ferdinands half-sisters, and he brought Leon and Castile together. Berenguela of Castile remained an active advisor of her son, Ferdinand III. Background, Family: Mother: Eleanor, Queen of Castile, a daughter of Henry II of England and Eleanor of AquitaineFather: Alfonso VIII of CastileSiblings included: Urraca of Castile, Queen of Portugal; Blanche of Castile, Queen of France; Mafalda; Constanza; Eleanor of Castile; Enrique (Henry) I of Castile Marriage, Children: Husband: King Alfonso IX of Leon (married 1197-1204)Children:EleanorFerdinand IIIAlfonsoBerengariaConstance