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

Key Figures of the Civil Rights Movement

• Martin Luther King Jr.: A Christian minister elected president of the SCLC in 1957.
• Malcolm X: An African American radical who converted to the Nation of Islam while in prison; the "X" represents his lost African name. He was later assassinated.
• Rosa Parks: An African American seamstress and activist who famously refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger.
• T. Eugene "Bull" Connor: Birmingham's public safety commissioner who infamously used police dogs and fire hoses against protesters.
• Thurgood Marshall: An African American lawyer from Baltimore, Maryland, who led the NAACP legal team in challenging the legality of segregation in the courts.
• Medgar Evers: A civil rights activist who helped James

League of Nations and Post-War Settlements

The League of Nations, established on January 1, 1920, was an international institution whose primary task was to prevent future conflicts and bring global stability. It was based in Geneva, Switzerland.

• Assembly: Included all member nations.
• Council: Presided over the Assembly; initially comprised only the Allied powers.

Notably, the U.S. Senate rejected American participation, and Germany and Russia were initially barred from joining.

The Paris Peace Treaties

The peace negotiations were heavily influenced by the leaders present:

• USA (President Woodrow Wilson): Advocated for the Fourteen Points, aiming for a new world based on democracy and national self-determination.
• France (Georges Clemenceau): Sought

Introduction

Despite the distinctive contexts and settings of the literary text "Ransom" by David Malouf and the film "The Queen" directed by Stephen Frears, the notion of grief and its exploration is central to both. As Malouf presents us with the image of Hector's lifeless body being dragged through the sediment, we are reminded of how difficult it is to overcome grief. Indeed, past habits can heavily restrict and hinder the process of healing. Both texts delve into how grief can be overcome by connecting with others, nature, and oneself. Furthermore, both the director and author advocate that overcoming grief unlocks a wealth of benefits.

Views and Values

• Malouf advocates that despite one's societal status, paternal duty is still valued and

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

The Conquest of Peru: Pizarro and Atahualpa

The Quest for the South Sea and the Capture of Atahualpa

After the conquest of Mexico, other Spaniards were challenged to match Hernán Cortés’s achievements. The challenge was taken up by Francisco Pizarro. He embarked on the quest to the South Sea that Balboa started, sailing with two partners: Diego de Almagro and Hernando de Luque.

Pizarro made two preliminary trips in 1524 and 1526, and then requested royal permission for the enterprise in Peru. He returned to Peru in 1531 to discover that the Inca Empire was undergoing a civil war. Atahualpa and his half-brother Huáscar were fighting for the Inca throne. Atahualpa won and soon received news of the white strangers landing on his shores.

They... Continue reading "The Spanish Conquest of the Inca Empire: Pizarro and Atahualpa" »

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" »