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

INDEPENDENCE, CONSTITUTION, BILL OF RIGHTS

-------

ROAD TO INDEPENDENCE

WHY INDEPENDENCE? Two main ideological roots that are opposed:

OLD REGIME

It was a social and political system established in Western Europe from approximately the 15th century. The political system was authoritarian and had absolute monarchy, demography (old demographic regime), society (estates of realm), economy (agrarian subsistence economy), and religion.

ENLIGHTENMENT

It was an intellectual movement developed in the 18th century. It started in France and spread to Europe and America. It defended progress, education, nature, encyclopedias, and separation of powers.

REVOLUTION

A historical process that drives to a very deep change which can be political or economical. They are usually short.

AMERICAN REVOLUTION

The progress of independence of the USA (1775-1783). It was a colonial revolt against the British... Continue reading "The Old Regime, Enlightenment, and Revolution in Europe and America" »

World War II

WW2 (1939-1945) was a vast conflict between Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, Japan) and Allied Powers (Britain, USSR, France, USA). Consequences:

• Impact of WW1: Germany lost territory and economy was damaged by the need to pay war reparations.
• Rise of fascism and nationalism: Following the Russian Revolution of 1917, many feared a communist revolution.
• Weakness of democracies: Expansionism of Germany and Italy was only possible because Britain and France avoided another war.
• Great Depression: Economic crises in many countries led to extreme ideologies like Nazism.

Outbreak of WW2: Germany claimed lost territory from Poland, leading to the invasion in 1939. Advance of Fascism: Japan occupied Manchuria in 1931, while Germany and Italy made... Continue reading "World War II: Causes, Events, and Consequences" »

Question 1

What did the U.S. do during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis?

Kennedy ordered a naval and air blockade around Cuba, a quarantine against all offensive weapons.

Question 2

In the 1960s, the radical group known as “Weathermen” was involved in:

College bombings that claimed several lives.

Question 3

When was the Equal Pay Act passed by Congress?

June 10, 1963.

Question 4

What happened during the Yom Kippur War of 1973?

Syria and Egypt held a surprise attack on Israeli-held lands.

Question 5

How did the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton end?

It ended with no charge attracting a majority of votes in the Senate.

Question 6

In 1992, Ross Perot made the best third-party showing in American politics since:

Theodore Roosevelt in 1912.

Question 7

In... Continue reading "20th Century American History Quiz" »

Mussolini’s rise to power

To the majority of Italians, the Versailles settlement was a bitter disappointment. Although Italy gained some territories, it was ignored. It seemed that other countries, particularly Yugoslavia, had gained at Italy’s expense. The territories that Italy gained were Trentino, South Tyrol, Istria, and Trieste.

Italy had borrowed heavily to finance its involvement in the First World War, leading to soaring inflation. In addition to this massive increase in the cost of living, Italians faced high unemployment as industry reduced production. The number of people seeking jobs increased with the return of the soldiers. Italy's parliamentary system was based on proportional representation, with more than nine political... Continue reading "Mussolini's Rise to Power and Foreign Policy" »

Basque Old Laws, Foruak, and Liberalism

The Foral Regime: A Distinctive Political Identity

The foral regime is the most distinctive political and juridical feature of the Basque Country, stretching from the Middle Ages to the contemporary era. The Foruak recognized separate laws, taxation, and courts in each province. This brought an internal division reflected in the name of each territory: the Kingdom of Navarre, Biscay, Gipuzkoa, and Araba.

The relationship between the foruak and the constitution remains a contentious issue; Basques see them as a fundamental right, while many Spaniards historically viewed them as privileges. Key features included:

• Exemption from certain fixed taxes.
• Every Basque born was free from torture and mandatory military

Imperialism: The need of European states to obtain raw materials and new markets for their industrial production.

Imperialism and the Berlin Conference

The immediate consequence of the Berlin Conference was the acceleration of the race to gain positions on the African continent. The way that the Europeans divided up African territory had consequences that still remain. The different metropoles drew completely artificial borders in Africa, without taking into account the present cultures or the existing indigenous regions. Thus, 50 new countries were created without giving them any type of racial or cultural cohesion. In the long run, the coexistence of traditionally warring peoples within these artificial borders has led to serious confrontations,... Continue reading "Imperialism to Cold War: Key 20th Century Impacts" »

Three Periods of the French Revolution

1. The Constitutional Monarchy

National Assembly

Louis XVI resisted a written constitution and used weapons against the National Assembly, reaching Paris on July 14, 1789.

Uprising in Paris

• Parisians organized their government, calling it the Commune.
• Nobles were attacked, feudal dues and existing taxes were destroyed.
• Many nobles fled, and Louis XVI was forced to adopt the new flag of France.

Changes by the National Assembly

• Abolishment of guilds.
• Abolition of special privileges.
• Constitution of 1791.
• Declaration of the Rights of Man.
• Equality before the law for men.
• Reforms in the logical government structure.

Declaration of the Rights of Man

This declaration guaranteed:

• Freedom of religion and speech.
• Freedom of the

Main idea:

Explaining the Popular Front program (3 important ideas:)

• Intro: Explaining the purpose of the text: explaining the objectives agreed by the different left groups that united in a coalition, the Popular Front, drew up a common government program
• Agreements between signatories: in 2 things X problems between republicans and socialists: Grant a broad amnesty to imprisoned for social and political reasons after the 1933 elections, Restore principles of Constitution 1931 and reforms initiated during the Reform Biennium
• Disagreements between Socialists and Republicans: Measures proposed by Socialists not approved by Republicans (Nationalization of land, although they recognize the need to improve the system of land distribution to the peasantry

World War II International Pacts and Alliances

The Formation of the Axis Powers

The Axis Powers (initially Italy, Japan, and Germany) were united by common interests in territorial expansion and a shared opposition to Communism. Key agreements included:

• Rome-Berlin Axis: Germany (GER) and Italy (ITA) supported Francisco Franco during the Spanish Civil War.
• Anti-Comintern Pact: Signed by Germany and Japan (JPN) against Soviet Communism.
• Pact of Steel: A formal military alliance between Germany and Italy. This alliance officially formed the core of the Axis Powers, which Japan joined in 1940.

The German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact

The Non-Aggression Pact (Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact) was signed by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union on August 23, 1939. This... Continue reading "World War II Alliances, Nazi Consolidation, and the Rise of Soviet Communism" »