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

1. The 17th Century: Transformations and Conflicts

1.1. The Transformations of the 17th Century

• Political Transformations: Serious international confrontations arose, leading to the decline of Spain's hegemony in Europe. Authoritarian monarchy was substituted by absolute monarchy, and the first parliamentary systems emerged.
• Economic Transformations: The rise of commerce encouraged financial capitalism, and the majority of states imposed mercantilism. Mercantilism was a new economic doctrine proposing that the power of both the monarchy and the country was based on the accumulation of wealth and precious metals.
• Social Transformations: The society of the three estates began to rupture due to the rise of the bourgeoisie, who became wealthier through

Franco's Dictatorship: Consolidation and Crisis (1959-1969)

1st Stage: The Stabilization Plan

1. Economic Changes
   • Importance of the Stabilization Plan of 1959, proposed by technocrats in government and new members of Opus Dei that assumed important posts in Franco's cabinet. Opus Dei aspired to economic integration in Europe, but Spain would be exposed to democratic influences.
   • Measures proposed by these technocrats:
     • Curb inflation, reduce government control of the economy, bring Spanish economic procedures in line with European standards. Spain's industrial production and standard of living increased.
   • Effects:
     • Foreign investment, attracted by low production costs, launched a process of industrialization, not only in Catalonia and the Basque Country,

16th Century Economy and Society

The economy prospered due to the riches obtained from the Americas, especially silver and gold.

• It enabled the kings to finance the numerous wars they were involved in throughout Europe, meaning that the majority of his wealth ended up outside the Iberian Peninsula.
• The arrival of metals enriched the nobility. They used the silver and gold to buy luxury products, but did not invest in production. Therefore, the majority of the population became poorer.
• The craft industry began to grow due to an increase in demand from the American territories. However, the rise in prices made Spanish products more expensive, and it became cheaper to buy them abroad.
• As they had more resources, the monarchs were able to begin more

The Bourgeois Revolutions

These revolutions enabled the bourgeoisie to gain political and social status previously only available to the nobility under the Ancient Régime. These revolutions took place in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Key Revolutions

• The American Revolution: The independence of the US was the bourgeoisie's first triumph.
• The French Revolution: Ended absolute monarchy and the estate system of the Ancien Régime, ushering in the Modern Age.

The American Revolution

In the American War of Independence, Great Britain fought against its 13 colonies located on the Atlantic coast of North America.

Causes

• Ideological Factors: Colonists, familiar with Enlightenment thinking about liberty and equality, used these ideals as the basis for the independence

World War I: Causes and Outbreak

World War I began in 1914, following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary. The conflict pitted the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire) against the Allied Powers (Great Britain, France, Russia, Italy, Romania, Japan, and the United States).

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand triggered a series of diplomatic crises that led to the outbreak of war. Austria-Hungary, convinced that Serbia was behind the assassination, declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914. Russia, allied with Serbia, mobilized its army in response, prompting Germany to declare war on Russia and France.

Within a week, World War I had begun, with Russia, Belgium, France,... Continue reading "World War I: Causes, Consequences, and Impact" »

Causes of the Crisis of 1917

As Spain benefited from exporting to other countries while workers continued to receive the same wages, a crisis formed that affected several areas:

• Social Crisis: The socialist unions (UGT) and anarchist unions (CNT) called a general strike with the aim of overthrowing the political system of the Restoration.
• Military Crisis: Soldiers joined organizations called Juntas de Defensa Militar and demanded higher salaries. They also called for political changes and the continuation of the war in Morocco.
• Political Crisis: Catalans, Republicans, and Socialists met in an Assembly of Parliamentarians and tried to impose political reform. However, the assembly was dissolved by the government.

Consequences of the Crisis of 1917

The... Continue reading "Spain's 1917 Crisis & 1931 Constitution Reforms" »

Key Terms and Concepts

• Tanks: War machines
• Enlist: Sign-up to war
• Counter-attack: To fight back
• Stalemate: Situation where no one can win
• Revolution: The people don't want a king
• Armistice: Agreement to stop war
• Reserves: Spare stocks, material, and army of the war
• Offensive: An aggressive movement or attack

Key Leaders

• Germany: Kaiser Wilhelm II
• Austria-Hungary: Emperor Franz Josef
• Russia: Tsar Nicholas II
• Britain: Prime Minister George V
• Italy: Prime Minister Antonio Salandra (until two years into the war, then Giovanni Giolitti)
• France: Prime Minister George Clemenceau

Alliances

• Triple Entente: Russia, France, Britain
• Triple Alliance: Italy, Germany, Austria-Hungary
• Russia-France Alliance

Key Events of 1914

• June 28: Franz Ferdinand assassinated
• July 23: Austria

The Scramble for Africa

The Scramble for Africa was the occupation, division, and colonization of African territory by European powers during the period of New Imperialism, between 1881 and 1914. It is also called the Partition of Africa and by some the Conquest of Africa. In 1870, only 10 percent of Africa was under formal European control; by 1914 it had increased to almost 90 percent of the continent, with only Ethiopia (Abyssinia), the Dervish state (a portion of present-day Somalia) and Liberia still being independent. There were multiple motivations including the quest for national prestige, tensions between pairs of European powers, religious missionary zeal and internal African native politics.

The Berlin Conference

The Berlin Conference... Continue reading "The Scramble for Africa: European Colonization and the Berlin Conference" »