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

Key Enlightenment Thinkers and Their Ideas

Voltaire

• Advocated for freedom of speech, press, and religion.
• Opposed monarchy, militarism, and slavery.
• Supported constitutional monarchy as a transitional step towards democracy.

Montesquieu

• Developed the theory of the separation of powers to protect people's rights.
• Significantly influenced Liberal Political Theory.

Mary Wollstonecraft

• Feminist activist and writer.
• Authored A Vindication of the Rights of Woman and A Vindication of the Rights of Men.

Immanuel Kant

• Wrote Critique of Pure Reason, a seminal work in philosophy.
• Developed deontology, a major ethical theory.

Mary Astell

• Championed social equality and choice for women in marriage.
• Advocated for equal education rights for women.

Claude-Adrien Helvétius

• Tax

European Powers in Africa

If you look at the map, you see that there are two dominant powers: there is a horizontal line to the North, where the French were, and a vertical line in blue, which corresponds to British dominion. That is what explains a caricature of Cecil Rhodes—who gave name to Rhodesia—in which he appears above the African map.

Germany's Ambitions

The third colonial power was Germany, which was fast becoming an industrialized area. By then, Germany was trying to establish a railway line joining Berlin and Baghdad, which contains the biggest oil reservoirs. Therefore, that is why they had interest to build this railway line.

British Dominions and Boer Republics

If we concentrate on the South, we see primarily British dominions...

The Revolutions of the 1820s

In Spain and Portugal, there were liberal revolutions that aimed to establish constitutional monarchies. In Spain, absolutism was re-established after The Liberal Triennium.

Greece wanted independence from the Ottoman Empire. A liberal-nationalist revolution began; it was supported by other European countries (Russia, Great Britain, and France). The Treaty of Adrianople recognized Greek independence.

The Revolutions of the 1830s

Belgium wanted independence from Holland, with which it was united to form the Netherlands. These two countries had many differences, including language and religion (most Belgians were Catholics and most Dutch were Protestants). Leopold I became Belgium's constitutional monarch.

During the Restoration...

The Mayflower Compact: A Foundation for Self-Governance

The Mayflower Compact, drafted in 1620, stands as the first governing document of Plymouth Colony. It was created by the male passengers of the Mayflower, a group composed of religious Separatists seeking freedom from persecution and individuals seeking economic opportunity. Facing unforeseen circumstances that landed them outside their intended Virginia territory, the Pilgrims established this compact to ensure order and survival.

Key Features of the Mayflower Compact:

• Majoritarian Model: The compact established a system of self-governance based on majority rule, although it excluded women and children from voting.
• Social Contract: The settlers agreed to abide by the compact's rules and regulations

Phases of the French Revolution

Constitutional Monarchy (1789-1792)

Once in the Estates General, the Third Estate proposed to change the voting system to one individual vote per member. The king refused, and the bourgeoisie declared themselves the true representatives of the nation. They proclaimed a National Assembly and pledged to draft a constitution. The king eventually agreed to demands, and a National Constituent Assembly was formed to abolish feudalism, approve the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens, and draw up a constitution based on the separation of power and national sovereignty with limited male suffrage (suffrage censitaire). The Legislative Assembly began to govern with the rules of the constitution, forcing the nobility...

The Interwar Period: Prosperity and Depression

The Roaring Twenties

After World War I, a period of economic prosperity emerged. The USA became one of the most prosperous countries and the first world superpower. This economic growth was based on:

• The development of industry: Due to the success of mass production and chain production.
• An increase in consumption: Promoted by advertising, credit, and hire purchase.
• Investments in stocks and shares: Banks, companies, and private individuals invested their capital in stocks, which increased their value.

The Crash of 1929

On October 24, 1929, “Black Thursday,” the stock exchange market collapsed. Investors panicked and tried to sell their stocks, which started the economic crisis of the 1930s.

Reason:

The Age of Revolutions in Europe

The political revolutions that took place brought the final end to absolute monarchy in Europe. Most of these revolutionary movements were based on liberal and nationalist ideologies.

Revolutions of the 1820s

The following revolutions took place in the 1820s:

• In Portugal and Spain, liberal revolutions aimed to establish constitutional monarchies.
• Greece won its independence from the Ottoman Empire through a liberal and nationalist revolution.

Revolutions of 1830

In 1830, other revolutions broke out:

• In France, a liberal revolution established a constitutional monarchy.
• In Belgium, a nationalist revolution gained independence from the Netherlands, to which Belgium had been united by the Congress of Vienna.

Revolutions

Francoist Cortes Dissolution

This law was approved by the Francoist Cortes, although it meant their own dissolution. To convoke elections, it was necessary to put an end to the Francoist Cortes; this law abolished those Cortes.

1977: A Year of Change

In the first six months of 1977, significant changes were made:

• Further amnesty for political prisoners
• Independent trade unions replaced vertical syndicates
• Right to strike was restored
• Legalization of political parties began in February

June 1977 Elections

Elections were convoked in June 1977, after trade unions and the PCE (Communist Party of Spain) were legalized. The UCD (Union of the Democratic Centre) won, and the PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party) came second. Another feature was the important...

The Constitution of 1837

The Constitution of 1837 Following the death of Fernando VII in 1833, his young daughter Isabel, under the regency of his wife Maria Cristina, took over Spain. During this regency, the power of liberal groups, both progressive and moderate, fluctuated. The progressive government, formed in September 1836, immediately convened special courts to decide on the restoration of the Constitution of 1812 or the creation of a new one. After nearly a year of discussions, Parliament approved a new Constitution on June 8, 1837, which was signed by Elizabeth II on November 17. This constitution consists of 13 titles, with a total of 77 articles, plus two additional ones. The new constitution embraced the principles of doctrinaire...