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

Failure of the League of Nations

Originated at the end of World War I to keep peace, the League of Nations did not fulfill its aspirations. The League was intended to sanction countries attacking others, but its effectiveness depended on member countries to reinforce its decisions. For instance, in 1931, Japan invaded Manchuria, and in 1935, Italy invaded Abyssinia; in both cases, the League failed to act decisively. Furthermore, when Adolf Hitler began breaking the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, the League also proved ineffective.

Appeasement Policy and Non-Intervention

European countries attempted to appease Adolf Hitler, allowing him to pursue his expansionist agenda in an effort to avoid war. This policy enabled aggressive nations to achieve... Continue reading "Interwar Period Crises: Causes of World War II and the Great Depression" »

• 28th June, 1914:

  Serb student, Gavrilo Princip, shoots Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife.

• 28th July, 1914:

  Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.

• 29th July, 1914:

  Due to its alliance, Russia mobilizes troops to defend Serbia.

• 1st of August, 1914:

  Germany declares war on Russia.

• 2nd of August, 1914:

  France declares war on Germany to help Russia.

• 3rd August, 1914:

  Germany declares war on France.

• 4th August, 1914:

  Germany invades neutral Belgium on its way to France. Great Britain declares war on Germany.

• 6th August, 1914:

  Austria-Hungary declares war on Germany.

• 7th August, 1914:

  Lord Kitchener calls for 100,000 men to join the British army to defend France and Belgium.

Why was - The Nation

Habsburg Spain: 16th Century Monarchs

The kingdoms and territories of the Catholic Monarchs were inherited by their grandson, Charles I, who had been born and raised in the Netherlands. This marked the beginning of the Spanish branch of the House of Austria, which in the 16^th century was prominently represented by Charles I and his son, Philip II.

Charles I (1516-1556)

Charles I inherited numerous territories from his paternal and maternal grandparents across central and northern Europe, as well as in Italy. He further expanded these domains with conquests in America. In 1519, he was elected Holy Roman Emperor, thereby also ruling over what is today Germany. Born in Ghent (Flanders) in 1500, he was the son of Philip the Handsome, heir to the imperial... Continue reading "Habsburg Spain: 16th Century Monarchs and Imperial Rule" »

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Adjaye,National Museum of African American History, W, DC 17

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Kenzo, Kagawa Prefecture Government Hall , Japan, 1958

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Kenzo, Peace Memorial Center, Japan 46-56

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diller + renfro - Phantom House - New York Times Magazine,07 Stirling, Neue Staatsgalerie, Stuttgart, Germany,77-84 Louis... Continue reading "Who did George try to find out" »

Declaration of Sentiments Excerpt

1. The following is an excerpt from what document? Having deprived her of this first right of a citizen, the elective franchise, thereby leaving her without representation in the halls of legislation, he has oppressed her on all sides. He has made her, if married, in the eye of the law, civilly dead.⁴ He has taken from her all right in property, even to the wages she earns.⁵

Answer: Declaration of Sentiments

Industrial Revolution Changes

2. Name two things that got worse during the Industrial Revolution. Name something that improved.

Answer: Crowded urban areas and an increase in child labor.

Andrew Carnegie on Wealth and Poverty

3. What was Carnegie’s attitude toward the concentration of wealth in the hands of... Continue reading "Essential US History Facts" »

Consequences of Imperialism (Colonies)

Demographic Growth: Increased due to a decrease in mortality thanks to improvements in hygiene and health. However, it also led to starvation and poverty in some regions.

Destruction of Ethnic Structures: Indigenous artisan crafts could not compete with manufactured goods from the colonists and gradually disappeared.

Resource Exploitation: Colonies practiced single-crop agriculture serving the colonial power's domestic needs. Industrialization was suppressed, and colonies primarily provided raw materials and markets. Mining was also significant.

Cultural Imposition: European languages, religions, and cultures were imposed, relegating indigenous cultures to a secondary status.

Artificial Borders: Colonization... Continue reading "Impact of Colonialism: Demographic Shifts, Economic Effects, and Global Conflicts" »

Henry David Thoreau's *Walden*: A Transcendentalist Experiment

Thoreau's Experiment in Simple Living

Finally, although Thoreau's life at Walden Pond between 1845 and 1847 constituted a community of only one, his stay there was just as much an experiment in living and an attempt at applied idealism as were Brook Farm and Fruitlands.

The Transcendentalists believed in the importance of a direct relationship with God and with nature.

*Walden*: A Journey of Spiritual Discovery

Thoreau, who was born and lived almost his entire life in Concord, went to live at Walden Pond in 1845 to experience nature directly and intensely and to test his Transcendental outlook in the concrete physical world. The full title of the work is *Walden; or, Life in the Woods*... Continue reading "Henry David Thoreau's Walden: A Transcendentalist Experiment in Simple Living" »

The Cuban Missile Crisis: A Cold War Nuclear Standoff

The Cuban Missile Crisis, a pivotal moment in the Cold War, unfolded in October 1962, bringing the world to the brink of nuclear conflict.

Origins of the Crisis

Prior to the crisis, tensions between the United States and Cuba were already high. In 1961, the U.S. had attempted to overthrow Fidel Castro's government with the failed Bay of Pigs invasion. This event served as a stark warning to Castro and solidified Cuba's alignment with the Soviet Union. Furthermore, Castro's government had nationalized U.S. companies, leading to severed diplomatic ties and economic sanctions from the United States.

The United States had also installed several intermediate-range ballistic missiles in Turkey and... Continue reading "Cuban Missile Crisis: Cold War Nuclear Standoff" »

Robespierre and the Reign of Terror

Believing that the revolution was in danger, the radical revolutionaries, or Jacobins, used this support to increase their powers. The Jacobin leader, Maximilien Robespierre, assumed all powers and established a dictatorship. The danger of foreign invasion and the internal threat from French opponents of the revolution led to the Reign of Terror (1793-1794), a ten-month period of violent repression. A special tribunal, the Committee of Public Safety, was established by Georges Danton and Robespierre. They tried people who were suspected of opposing the Republic, even without proof, sentencing them to death by the guillotine, a famous symbol of the French Revolution. Around 50,000 people were executed. Robespierre... Continue reading "French Revolution: Robespierre, Napoleon, and the Rise of Nationalism" »