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

Key Figures of 19th Century Spain

• Joseph Bonaparte: King of Spain while Napoleon ruled.
• Duke of Wellington: An English general who defeated the French in Spain.
• Manuel Godoy: He was a Spanish politician and Prime Minister of Charles IV.
• Simón Bolívar: A Venezuelan general who led the independence movement.
• Carlos V: He was Isabella II's uncle who wanted to rule Spain.
• José de San Martín: Argentine general.
• Ramón María Narváez: Spanish politician who led the Moderate Party.
• Amadeo of Savoy: He was King of Spain between 1870 and 1873.
• Baldomero Espartero: A Spanish general and politician who led the Progressive Party.
• Antonio Cánovas del Castillo: Spanish politician who founded and led the Conservative Party.

Historical Facts and Developments

• Serrano

The Modern Age: Defining the Historical Period

The historical period known as the Modern Age spans from the 15th to the 18th century. This period is a subject of debate amongst historians. Most accepted starting dates include the capture of Constantinople by the Turks (1453) or the discovery of America (1492). It is generally considered to end with the French Revolution (1789).

The Modern Age is divided into sub-periods characterized by homogeneous features:

• 16th Century: The Renaissance
• 17th Century: The Baroque
• 18th Century: The Enlightenment and Absolutism

The Age of Geographical Discoveries

Geographical discoveries, primarily made by the Portuguese and Castilians in Africa, America, and Asia, significantly extended the frontiers of the world known... Continue reading "The Dawn of Modernity: Renaissance, Reformation, and Global Discovery" »

The Basque Statute of 1937

Historical and Legal Context

This legal text outlines the articles of the Basque Statute. Authored by representatives of Basque citizens and confirmed by the central government, it came into effect on October 7, 1937, though its publication in the Basque Country took two days. This law applies to all citizens, particularly those in the Basque Country directly affected by its provisions.

Background and Development

The Basque Statute was not a novel concept. Attempts to establish it during Primo de Rivera's dictatorship failed. The possibility of its approval arose with the 1931 Constitution of the Second Republic, which recognized the right of territories with shared characteristics (past, language, history) to gain autonomy.... Continue reading "The Basque Statute of 1937: A Historical Overview" »

Puerto Rico: Island Details and Rich Heritage

Key Facts About Puerto Rico

• Official Status: United States territory
• Location: Northeastern Caribbean archipelago
• Capital: San Juan
• Official Languages: Spanish (predominant) and English
• Population: Approximately 3.6 million people
• Administrative Divisions: 78 municipalities
• Major Cities: Ponce, Caguas, Mayagüez
• Geographic Position: The island is located between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic (about 1,000 miles (1,600 km) southeast of Miami, Florida).

Governance and Political Status

As a U.S. territory, Puerto Ricans have U.S. citizenship, share common currency, and defense with the United States. However, residents generally cannot vote in U.S. presidential... Continue reading "Puerto Rico: Caribbean Island Facts, Culture & History" »

The Russian Revolution

1. Russia Before 1905 and the First Revolution

• In the early 1900s, Russia was one of the most impoverished countries in Europe, characterized by an enormous peasantry and a growing minority of poor industrial workers.
• Russia was an underdeveloped, backwards society. The Russian Empire practiced serfdom well into the 19th century, whereas it had disappeared in most of Western Europe by the end of the Middle Ages.
• In 1861, the Russian Empire finally abolished serfdom.
• Russia industrialized much later than Western Europe and the United States, leading to immense social and political changes.
• The populations of St. Petersburg and Moscow nearly doubled, resulting in destitute living conditions.
• A population boom at the end of the

1. The Three-Fifths Compromise

One of the most misunderstood clauses in the United States Constitution is found in Article 1, Section 2: “Representatives… shall be apportioned among the… States… by adding to the whole Number of free Persons... three-fifths of all other Persons.”

The Three-Fifths Compromise was devised by those who opposed slavery, not by those who were for slavery. Or, to put it another way, it wasn’t the racists of the South who wanted to count slave populations less than white populations – it was the abolitionists of the North.

Description

The Three-Fifths Compromise was a compromise reached among state delegates during the 1787 United States Constitutional Convention. Whether, and if so, how, slaves would be counted... Continue reading "The Three-Fifths Compromise and Other Key Events Leading to the Civil War" »

POLITICAL IDEOLOGIES

1. CAPITALISM/LIBERALISM: Created during the industrial revolution. It was the development of a liberal political belief; it is an economic system where the government plays a secondary role.

Free trade and market economy → prices up and down according to the demand of products.

2. COMMUNISM: 

• The means of production are commonly owned in classless society.

• Decisions should be made to benefit the collective rather than one or several individuals.

•  Create classless society by eliminating the power of bourgeoisie, and creating a dictatorship of the proletariat.

3. SOCIALISM: 

• The means of production are owned by society as a whole.

• Profits produced by the proletariat belong to everyone, instead of a small class of private owners.

• Believes

Global Colonial Powers and Their Influence

United Kingdom

Trade Routes and Territories

• Gibraltar
• Malta
• Suez Canal
• Singapore
• Maldives

African Influence

• Egypt
• Kenya
• Nigeria
• South Africa

Pacific Influence

• Australia
• New Zealand

Asian Influence

• India
• Malaysia
• Myanmar (Burma)

American Influence

• Canada
• Caribbean

France

African Influence

• Maghreb: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia
• Sub-Saharan Africa: Senegal, Madagascar, Guinea

Asian Influence

• Cambodia
• Vietnam
• Laos

Germany

African Influence

• Namibia
• Tanzania

Oceanian Influence

• Marquesas Islands
• Caroline Islands
• Mariana Islands

Netherlands

• Indonesia
• Suriname
• Dutch Antilles

Portugal

African Influence

• Angola
• Mozambique

Asian Influence

• Macau

Belgium

• Congo

Italy

• Libya
• Somalia

United States of America

• Hawaii
• Puerto Rico
• Caribbean

Japan

• Korea
• Taiwan

Spain

• Morocco
• Western Sahara

Key

The Origins and Escalation of the Cold War

The roots of the Cold War can be traced back to the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution. Following the Russian Civil War (1918–1922), the USSR did not receive widespread diplomatic recognition until the 1930s. Tensions were further complicated by the 1939 Nazi-Soviet Pact and subsequent disagreements at the Potsdam Conference.

Key Factors in Early Tensions

• US-Soviet Friction: The development of the atomic bomb, the Czech Coup, and the Greek Civil War.
• Diplomatic Shifts: Kennan's Long Telegram, Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech, and Stalin's withdrawal from the IMF.
• Economic Policies: The Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan were countered by the Molotov Plan (COMECON) and Cominform.
• German Division: The London Conference