Ramón Chíes facts for kids
Ramón Chíes y Gómez de Riofranco (born in 1845 – died in 1893) was an important Spanish journalist, editor, and political activist. He was well-known for supporting ideas like anti-clericalism (being against the power of the church in government) and Republicanism (wanting a republic instead of a monarchy). Chíes was also one of the first people in Spain to support Freethought, which means thinking freely and questioning traditional beliefs. He also strongly believed in the right to vote for everyone and the idea of an eight-hour working day for workers.
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Ramón Chíes's Life Story
Ramón Chíes was born in a town called Medina de Pomar in the Province of Burgos, Spain, in 1846. He studied different subjects like science, philosophy, and law in cities such as Santander and Madrid. However, he chose to focus on journalism as his career.
Joining the Republican Movement
After a big event called the Glorious Revolution happened in 1868, Ramón Chíes became involved in politics. In the same year, he helped create the Federal Democratic Republican Party. This party wanted Spain to become a republic, where people would elect their leaders, instead of having a king or queen.
His Work as a Journalist
Ramón Chíes worked as an editor for a newspaper called El voto nacional (which means The National Vote). In 1882, he also started a weekly newspaper called Las dominicales del Libre Pensamiento (The Sundays of Freethought) with his friend Fernando Lozano. Through this newspaper, Chíes shared his ideas about free thinking.
Because of his strong opinions, Chíes faced some challenges. He was accused of saying things that went against religious beliefs. He was even sentenced to six months in prison and had to pay a large fine. However, he fought the decision and was eventually found innocent after a lot of effort. This showed how dedicated he was to his beliefs and to freedom of speech.
Fighting for Workers' Rights
Just before he passed away in 1893, Ramón Chíes was chosen to be a member of the city council in Madrid. In this role, he continued to fight for important causes. He strongly supported the idea that Spanish workers should have an eight-hour day. This meant that people would only work eight hours a day, which was a big step towards better working conditions for everyone.
See also
In Spanish: Ramón Chíes para niños
