Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for History

The Napoleonic Era

Napoleon Bonaparte had a military education. He drove British forces from the port of Toulon, captured northern Italy, and forced Austrian Hapsburgs to make peace. He also led an Egyptian expedition in 1798.

Napoleon's Rise to Power in 1799

He took control of the Directory by coup d'état and established a three-man Consulate with himself as First Consul. Later, he crowned himself Emperor.

Napoleon's Reforms

• Class System:
  • Nobles who fled France could return if they swore loyalty to the new French government.
  • Peasants kept lands they had bought.
  • A new nobility was established through a meritocracy.
• Economy:
  • Controlled prices.
  • Promoted industrial growth.
• Government:
  • Strengthened the national government.
  • An efficient bureaucracy governed

American Revolutionary War

American Revolutionary War; War between Great Britain and its Thirteen Colonies which declared independence as the United States of America.

French and Indian War (Seven Years' War)

French & Indian War (Seven Years' War): French and Native Americans vs. British and the 13 colonies. The war involved guerrilla warfare, which included hit-and-run attacks, ambushes, and concealment (hiding). The turning point of the Seven Years' War was the Battle of Quebec. Why was the Battle of Quebec so important in the Seven Years' War? The British attacked the strongest French fort in Quebec and won the battle. Who won the Seven Years' War?

Questions and Answers

• A: The British and colonists
• Q: What treaty ended the Seven Years' War?

How important was the geographical position of Germany in determining the outcome of the First World War?

At the beginning of the 20th century, the German Empire struggled to establish itself as a European power. It emerged as a state in 1871 and was ruled by Kaiser Wilhelm II.

The desire to conquer territories and paralyze rival empires were the main causes of WWI. Europe was divided into two alliances: The Triple Alliance, created in 1882 by Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, and The Triple Entente. The Triple Alliance consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy, while the Triple Entente included France, Great Britain, and Russia.

The war broke out on June 28, 1914, when a young Serbian nationalist murdered Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria,... Continue reading "The Geographical Position of Germany in the First World War" »

Russian Revolution Causes

The Army

The army consisted of a huge number of conscripts who were obligated to fight. Soldiers were badly led, leading to deep discontent by 1917.

Peasants and Workers

• The huge casualty figures left many widows and orphans needing state war pensions.
• In 1916, local government reported that the war had killed 13% of the population.
• The government could not be relied upon to ensure the supply of food.

The Middle Classes

The middle classes were unhappy with the Tsar by the end of 1916, although they did not suffer as much as the peasants. There was also a shortage of raw materials for industries.

Tsarina and Rasputin

• The Tsarina rearranged some political placements, which most people disagreed with.
• Both the Tsarina and Rasputin

The Statute of Autonomy of the Basque Country (1979)

Type

Primary source

Legal Status

Law

Content

Political text

Author

Collective (representatives of the pre-autonomous Basque General Council)

Status

Drafted by PNV, PSOE, and others + approved by Corts + sanctioned by King (Juan Carlos I) + signed by President of Government (Adolfo Suárez)

Addressee

Law → all citizens of EH →public text

Objective

Be one of the fundamental laws of EH, culminating the process that Basque people desire = self-government as enshrined in Spanish Constitution of 1978 + on the basis of 36 statutes abrogated during Fascism.

Location and Date

Royal Palace, Madrid, 18 December 1979

Context

In the period of the Spanish Transition, after Franco's death in 1975, that was a period of... Continue reading "The Basque Statute of Autonomy of 1979" »

Anarchy: absence of government and absolute freedom of the individual, regarded as a political Ideal. Example: Free Territory, It existed from 1918 to 1921 in Russia and Ukraine.

Aristocracy: a form Of government in which power is held by the nobility. Example: no country has An aristocratic government.

Authoritarian: Avoring or enforcing strict obedience to authority, especially that of the Government, at the expense of personal freedom. Example: Argentina under Perón And Nasser in Egypt.

Communist: adhering To or based on the principles of communism. Example: Post-Soviet states: Armenia, Estonia.

Confederation: a more Or less permanent union of countries with some or most political power vested In a central authority. Example: Belgium, Canada.... Continue reading "Autonomous states come together to form a union called" »

The Progressive Biennium (1854–1856)

• The Progressive Liberals resorted to a military coup d'état to access power when the political system and the prestige of the monarchy weakened.
• New President of the Government: Espartero, with the help of the Unionist General O'Donnell.
• Confiscation and privatization of civil and communal assets (fostered by Minister of Economy, Madoz, in 1855).
• General Railway Law (1855).

The Final Years of Isabella II (1856–1868)

• Power was held alternately by the Moderates of Narváez and the Unionists of O'Donnell.

• Moderate Policies

  • Creation of an educational system (the Moyano Law), regulating primary education.
  • Colonialist foreign policy: campaigns in Morocco, Indochina, and Mexico.

• Growing Opposition

  • Growing opposition