Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and exercises for History for Baccalaureate

Clientage Networks and Royal Dynasties

A clientage network is a group of dependent people linked by loyalty and favors. Kings considered themselves part of a dynasty, which is a royal family encompassing not only its current members but also past and even future ones. Their objective was to maintain and increase the legacy of their ancestors to pass it to their heirs, as they considered their kingdoms an inheritance.

The Rise of Absolute Monarchies

The difference between dynastic and kingdom interests led to two distinct political situations in the 17th century. In absolute monarchies, kings finally controlled all supreme power. They recognized the different powers inside their kingdoms, but they placed themselves above all of them. They achieved...

Context

This document analyzes a sermon written by Añoveros, Bilbao’s bishop, in February 1974. Intended to be read publicly in parishes and addressed to public authorities, the sermon focuses on the lack of respect for Basque traditions. It was written during a period when the Basque provinces faced differing treatment under Franco's regime. While Araba and Navarre remained relatively unaffected, Gipuzkoa and Viscay, having defended the republic, endured harsh punishments, including the suppression of the Basque language and the denial of the Economic Concert.

Economic and Social Climate

Spain's economic situation in the early 1970s was relatively strong, fueled by the economic miracle of the 1960s. Industrial expansion attracted a wave of...

NATIONALISM: devotion to the interests and culture of one's nation.

The Basque Statute of 1937

Historical and Legal Context

This legal text outlines the articles of the Basque Statute. Authored by representatives of Basque citizens and confirmed by the central government, it came into effect on October 7, 1937, though its publication in the Basque Country took two days. This law applies to all citizens, particularly those in the Basque Country directly affected by its provisions.

Background and Development

The Basque Statute was not a novel concept. Attempts to establish it during Primo de Rivera's dictatorship failed. The possibility of its approval arose with the 1931 Constitution of the Second Republic, which recognized the right of territories with shared characteristics (past, language, history) to gain autonomy....

The Post-War Era and the Cold War

After World War II, the United States played a major role on the world stage, hoping to provide the stability necessary for peaceful reconstruction. This era saw the formation of NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization), a coalition of nations committed to mutual defense.

The Rise of Global Tensions

The Cold War emerged from fundamental disagreements between the USA and the Soviet Union regarding government and economic systems. Seeking to secure its borders, the Soviet Union brought communist regimes to power across Central and Eastern Europe.

In response, the U.S. sought to contain Soviet expansionism. This policy included demanding a full Soviet withdrawal from Iran, supporting Turkey, providing economic...

(h2)Which is the only directly elected organ of the EU? When were the last elections? And the next ones? (h3)The EU parliament, elected every 5 years, 2014 last elections, 2019 next(h2)Which four institutions of the EU play the most important role in the decision-making process? (h3)The European Parliament, European Commission, European Council and the Council of the European Union (Ministers)(h2)What does art. 5 of the Washington Treaty outline? When was it invoked in the past? When could it be invoked in the future? (h3)Art. 5 of Washington Treaty outlines the alliance of members when it comes to defense: The principle of collective security; It was invoked after 9/11. The Washington Treaty is the founding Treaty of NATO. NATO has taken collective...

The Provisional Government's Initial Steps

Following the February Revolution, the Provisional Government established liberal credentials, for example, by abolishing the death penalty. Russia became, in theory, the freest of all the warring states.

Challenges Facing the Provisional Government

Unmet Expectations

• Elections were postponed due to World War I.
• The Provisional Government was reluctant to embark on significant land reform, disappointing peasant expectations.

Dual Power Structure

• A major conflict, known as Dual Power, existed between the Provisional Government and the Petrograd Soviet (and other left-wing workers' and soldiers' councils across the country).

Breakdown of Law and Order

• Widespread rural disturbances occurred as peasants seized

Introduction to the Great War

Between 1871 and 1914, intense rivalries among European nations led to the formation of two powerful alliances that ultimately clashed during the First World War.

The First World War was fought by these two opposing alliances, involving various European countries, as well as the USA and Japan.

Pre-War Tensions and Causes

The period of uneasy peace in Europe at the end of the 19th century was marked by several significant sources of tension:

• Franco-German Rivalry

  France sought to recover the region of Alsace-Lorraine, which it had lost to the German Empire in 1871.

• Balkan Nationalism

  Between 1878 and 1908, the Austro-Hungarian Empire occupied and then annexed Bosnia-Herzegovina. This action fueled nationalist protests from

The War of Independence & The Birth of a Nation (1775-1783)

Causes of the War of Independence

• The French & Indian War
• Colonial self-sufficiency
• Taxation without representation, including:
  • The Stamp Act (1765): Imposed taxes to raise colonial revenue.
  • The Townshend Acts: Imposed internal taxes.

Key Events Leading to War

• The Boston Massacre (1770)
• The Boston Tea Party (1773)
• The Intolerable Acts (1774): Closed Boston Harbor as an example of English attempts to isolate the colonies from each other.

Major Events During the War

• 1774 - The First Continental Congress: Representatives of the 13 colonies met in Philadelphia to improve relations with England. The effort failed.
• April 1775 - The Battles of Lexington and Concord: Fighting broke out in Massachusetts

Joseph Pulitzer: Pioneer of Popular Press

Born in Hungary in 1847, Joseph Pulitzer, a Jewish immigrant, initially sought to join European armies but was unsuccessful. At 17, he left home for the USA, intending to fight in the American Civil War, but arrived after its conclusion.

His career began at the Westliche Post, a German-language newspaper for immigrants in St. Louis, Missouri. By age 20, he had obtained American citizenship. He then joined the St. Louis Dispatch, where he honed sensationalist techniques. Soon after, he purchased the Dispatch and merged it with the Evening Post, creating the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Shaping Sensationalism and Reform

This newspaper became the platform where he developed the journalistic formula that brought...