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

What Was World War II?

World War II, a global armed conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, was a total war in two distinct aspects. Firstly, civilian populations became primary targets and the war's most tragic victims. Secondly, the conflict engulfed all continents, marking it as one of the most brutal and inhumane wars in history.

Driven by Nazi expansionism, World War II represented an ideological struggle. It pitted democracy and socialism against fascism, even sparking civil conflicts within the Axis powers—Germany, Italy, and Japan. The Allied forces—including Britain, France, the USA, and the Soviet Union—fought for liberal democratic principles.

As the largest armed conflict in human history, World War II resulted in unprecedented destruction,... Continue reading "World War II: Causes, Impact, and Legacy" »

IMPERIALISM: It was a political, social and military movement (19th-20th century). It was led by Europeans countries and later by Japan, USA and Russia. The main objective was to become a big empire so, each country needed to conquer some territories (in Africa, Canada, Australia and Asia) known as colonies.

CAUSES OF IMPERIALISM:Economic interests: Industrialized Europeans countries were in search of new markets (to sell their surplus products) and they also wanted to obtain more raw materials (cotton, iron coal…)  and colonial products (sugar, chocolate, tea…) and in that colonies the labor was cheaper (workforce). Population growth: The economic changes caused a huge rise in Europeans population ( less deaths and more food). This caused

The Age of Revolution

• 1776-1871
• The American Revolution
• Thirteen British colonies in Eastern North America
• Economy based on agriculture and trade
• Black slaves worked in agriculture
• Britain had the monopoly of trade
• Political tensions: Settlers payed taxes but did not have political representation. Rejection to buy British products. Boston Tea Party: attack against a ship with tea [ outbreak of the Revolutionary War
• The conflict brought political changes: Jefferson wrote the Virginia declaration of Rights. 1776 Declaration of Independence
• The American Revolutionary War: Colonies were supported by France and Spain. Washington victories Britain recognised independence. Treaty of Versailles 1783. 1787 United States Constitution. 1789 Washington first American

Will Rogers: The American entertainer who traveled the Far East in 1931 had a unique perspective. He particularly liked Shanghai.

Jan Myrdal: In 1982, Myrdal revisited the Chinese village he reported on in 1962. His observations in Return to a Chinese Village expressed disappointment at the changes and continued support for Mao's program, including the Cultural Revolution.

Fulbright Hearings: U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearings on Vietnam conducted between 1966 and 1971.

Simon Leys: Argued that the Cultural Revolution was not cultural or revolutionary, but an irrational, cruel power struggle replicating old despotism.

Little Red Book: A collection of statements from speeches and writings by Mao Zedong, published from 1964 to about... Continue reading "Key Figures and Events Shaping China-US Relations" »

Latin American Social Hierarchy

1. Peninsulares: People born in Spain. They were at the top of the social hierarchy.

The Revolutions in the Americas

Bonds That Create

Wilson's Fourteen Points

• Self-determination
• Isolation of Russia
• Revenge of France, because of the territories of Alsace and Saarland

The Crisis of 1929: Causes

The main causes of the 1929 crisis were:

• Inflation
• Speculation
• Overproduction

Great Depression: Development and Measures

In 1929, the era of prosperity was interrupted by a severe crisis that began with the crash of the New York Stock Exchange. Unable to collect the loans that had been granted, most banks went bankrupt, and those that survived the crisis drastically reduced the financing of firms.

Before long, industrial production declined drastically. Unemployment affected almost all social classes.

National Responses to the Great Depression

• United States: Proposed a shock plan to revive the economy,

The end of the cold war:

US Civil War

Causes

• Slavery
• Protectionism
• States' rights
• Territorial crisis
• Sectionalism and cotton trade
• Nationalism and honor
• Slave power and free soil
• National elections

Events

Mobilization, prisoners, naval war, Union blockade, Emancipation Proclamation

Consequences

End of slavery

The Great War (World War I)

Causes

• Assassination of Franz Ferdinand
• Militarism
• Imperialism
• Nationalism
• Alliances

Alliances

Russia and Serbia, Germany and Austria-Hungary, France and Russia, Britain and France and Belgium, Japan and Britain

Russian Revolution

The first revolution happened in 1905, and the second revolution in 1917.

Causes

Poor living conditions, killing of the workers, bad governments, unemployment, no food, no money, government didn't help.

The Romanovs were the ruling... Continue reading "US Civil War & WWI: Causes, Events, and Aftermath" »

Martin Luther King Jr.

Economic Context

During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the USA faced economic hardship. People lost their jobs, struggled to afford food, and experienced widespread poverty.

Family and Career

Following in the footsteps of his grandfather and father, Martin Luther King Jr. became a church pastor.

Inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi

Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolent resistance in the fight for civil rights deeply inspired Martin Luther King Jr.

The Montgomery City Code and Rosa Parks

Montgomery City Code

Buses in Montgomery were segregated, with separate sections for white and black people. Black people were required to give up their seats to white people, even if it meant standing.

Rosa Parks' Act of Defiance

Rosa Parks was... Continue reading "Civil Rights Pioneers: Martin Luther King Jr. and Emmeline Pankhurst" »

1. Describe the reforms promoted by conservative (Maura) and liberal (Canalejas) politicians prior to 1917.

Antonio Maura promoted a series of reforms aimed at modernizing Spain. These included changes to laws related to taxes, voting, local administrations, and strikes. However, these measures did little to address the widespread corruption and election rigging that plagued the political system.

José Canalejas, a liberal politician, implemented reforms that aimed to limit the power of the Church, regulate employment, establish obligatory military service, and decentralize the Spanish government.

2. Which social groups played important roles in the protest movements of 1917? Why were they unhappy with the existing political system?

The protest... Continue reading "The Second Spanish Republic: A Period of Reform and Conflict (1917-1936)" »