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

Bourgeois Revolutions

The bourgeois revolutions enabled the bourgeoisie to gain political power and a social status which had only been available to the nobility under the Ancien Régime. These revolutions took place in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

This process was begun by two revolutions.

The American Revolution

The French Revolution

2.1. The causes of the war

The American War of Independence was caused by a combination of factors.

• Ideological factors: the colonists were familiar with Enlightenment thinking about liberty and equality. These ideas became the basis for the independence movement.
• Political factors: the British Parliament made decisions about taxes and other issues related to the colonies.
• Economic and social factors: by this

The Rise of Fascism in Italy

Post-WWI Economic and Social Context in Italy

Following World War I, Italy faced a complex and challenging situation:

• Despite benefiting from the war economically, its agriculture and industry were devastated.
• High unemployment and rising prices plagued the nation.
• The burden of war loans added to the economic strain.

The Impact of the Great Depression on Italy

The global economic crisis further exacerbated Italy's woes:

• Consumption plummeted, leading to factory closures and widespread poverty.

The Rise of Benito Mussolini and the Fascist Party

In this climate of instability, Benito Mussolini and his Fascist Party rose to power, capitalizing on popular discontent and promising order and stability.

Characteristics of Fascist

Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC)

6. Know what AFDC is and how it applies to people. Aid to Families with Dependent Children

Key Political Concepts

• Neo-institutional: The way they interact and how they affect society.
• Interest Group: Organization of people who work together to protect and promote the government. Two categories: economic and noneconomic.
• Entrepreneurial: A person who organizes and operates a business/es, takes risk.
• Client: Government Owned Enterprise (GOE), prior to marketing or sales activities.
• Majoritarian: Democracy rule of society’s citizens.

Introducing a Bill in Congress

8. How can a bill be introduced in Congress? Members of Congress are the only ones who can introduce the bill at any time the House of Senate

The Restoration Era After Napoleon (1815)

Following Napoleon's defeat in 1815, the Ancien Régime was restored. This meant a return to the political system imposed by Austria, Prussia, Russia, and Great Britain. These European powers met at the Congress of Vienna (1814-1815) and implemented several measures:

• Absolute monarchs were reinstated.
• Europe’s borders were redrawn.
• The European powers agreed to support any monarch facing revolution.

During the Restoration, two alliances formed:

• The Holy Alliance: Russia, Prussia, and Austria.
• The Quadruple Alliance: Russia, Prussia, Austria, and Great Britain.

Key Ideologies of the 19th Century

Three main ideologies shaped the era:

• Liberalism: Advocated for individual liberties such as the right to life, freedom

The Korean War

Background

Korea had been under Japanese control since 1910. After Japan's defeat in 1945, the US and USSR agreed to temporarily divide the country into two zones along the 38th parallel to organize Japan's surrender and withdrawal. The UN wanted free elections for the whole country, which the US supported, believing that capitalism would prevail in the South, where two-thirds of the population resided. However, no agreement was reached with the USSR. Elections were held in the South, and the Independent Republic of Korea was established. Russia, in turn, created the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in the North. In 1949, both USSR and US forces withdrew, leaving a dangerous situation. Most Koreans resented the division, yet... Continue reading "The Korean War: A Summary and Analysis" »

Adolf Hitler and the Emergence of the Nazi Party

• Adolf Hitler was a demobilized soldier from the First World War. He could not accept Germany’s defeat and in 1920, he joined the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP), also known as the Nazi Party, and quickly emerged as its leader.
• The Nazi Party adopted a red flag with the swastika as its emblem and established paramilitary groups: the *Sturmabteilung* (SA), known as assault troops, and the *Schutzstaffel* (SS), or Protection Squadron.
• Hitler’s ideology was articulated in his book *Mein Kampf* ('My Struggle'), where he expressed profound contempt for parliamentary democracy and intense hatred of Bolshevism. He also advocated for antisemitism, the perceived superiority of the Aryan

Humanism (15th and 16th Centuries)

The philosophy which introduced modern times by shifting from the Church-centered preoccupation of the Middle Ages to focus on the needs and aspirations of the individual. Instead of worrying about the afterlife, people concentrated on the here and now.

Johannes Gutenberg (1450)

He was the German goldsmith who developed movable type and the printing press. Printing led to a communications revolution and encouraged individualistic thinking and initiative, which became the cornerstone of today’s capitalist system.

Martin Luther (1520)

The German friar whose attempts to reform the Church led to the Protestant Reformation. His work resulted in a century of religious warfare, a permanent split within the faith, and... Continue reading "Shaping the Modern World: Key Historical Milestones" »

The Inkhorn Controversy

The Opposition

The wholesale borrowing of words from other languages did not meet with universal favor. The strangeness of the new words was an objection to some people. Some considered the use of learned words mere pedantry and tried to drive them out by ridicule, calling them “inkhorn” terms. Sir Thomas Chaloner is an example.

The strongest objection to the new words was on the score of their obscurity. The great exponent of this view was Thomas Wilson, whose Arte of Rhetorique (1553) was several times reprinted. Of the forty-five such terms he cited, thirty are not found before the 16th century, and the remaining fifteen were of such infrequent occurrence as to be considered by him inkhorn terms. It is notable that... Continue reading "The Inkhorn Controversy: Shaping the English Language" »

November 30, 2023

World War II Begins

Causes of World War II

1. The Treaty of Versailles
2. Rise of Totalitarianism
3. Adolf Hitler's Actions
4. Failure of the League of Nations

1938: The Munich Conference

• Adolf Hitler hosted Italy, France, and Britain.
• He demanded the rest of Czechoslovakia.
• British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain appeased Hitler.

The Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact

• Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin signed a 10-year non-aggression agreement between Germany and the Soviet Union.

The Spark of World War II

• On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland.
• On September 3, 1939, Britain and France declared war.

Canada's Decision to Enter the War

• William Lyon Mackenzie King waited one week, declaring war on September 10th.
• This demonstrated Canada's growing autonomy

Causes of the French Revolution

1. Taxation System: The complex system of administration and taxation prevented the government from raising necessary funds and limited the influence of the Third Estate.
2. American War: France's involvement in the American War of Independence, while resulting in victory against Britain, led to a financial crisis due to the high cost of fighting overseas. This economic strain contributed to the French Revolution.
3. Price Increases: Crop failures and harsh winters resulted in food shortages and price increases, impacting peasants and the urban poor. The rising cost of living, coupled with a financial crisis, led to increased unemployment and social unrest.

The Beginning of the Revolution (1789)

The privileged classes resisted... Continue reading "The French Revolution: Causes, Phases, and Key Events" »