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

How important was the geographical position of Germany in determining the outcome of the First World War?

At the beginning of the 20th century, the German Empire struggled to establish itself as a European power. It emerged as a state in 1871 and was ruled by Kaiser Wilhelm II.

The desire to conquer territories and paralyze rival empires were the main causes of WWI. Europe was divided into two alliances: The Triple Alliance, created in 1882 by Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, and The Triple Entente. The Triple Alliance consisted of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy, while the Triple Entente included France, Great Britain, and Russia.

The war broke out on June 28, 1914, when a young Serbian nationalist murdered Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria,... Continue reading "The Geographical Position of Germany in the First World War" »

The Statute of Autonomy of the Basque Country (1979)

Type

Primary source

Legal Status

Law

Content

Political text

Author

Collective (representatives of the pre-autonomous Basque General Council)

Status

Drafted by PNV, PSOE, and others + approved by Corts + sanctioned by King (Juan Carlos I) + signed by President of Government (Adolfo Suárez)

Addressee

Law → all citizens of EH →public text

Objective

Be one of the fundamental laws of EH, culminating the process that Basque people desire = self-government as enshrined in Spanish Constitution of 1978 + on the basis of 36 statutes abrogated during Fascism.

Location and Date

Royal Palace, Madrid, 18 December 1979

Context

In the period of the Spanish Transition, after Franco's death in 1975, that was a period of... Continue reading "The Basque Statute of Autonomy of 1979" »

Anarchy: absence of government and absolute freedom of the individual, regarded as a political Ideal. Example: Free Territory, It existed from 1918 to 1921 in Russia and Ukraine.

Aristocracy: a form Of government in which power is held by the nobility. Example: no country has An aristocratic government.

Authoritarian: Avoring or enforcing strict obedience to authority, especially that of the Government, at the expense of personal freedom. Example: Argentina under Perón And Nasser in Egypt.

Communist: adhering To or based on the principles of communism. Example: Post-Soviet states: Armenia, Estonia.

Confederation: a more Or less permanent union of countries with some or most political power vested In a central authority. Example: Belgium, Canada.... Continue reading "Autonomous states come together to form a union called" »

Ancien Regime

The Ancien Regime was a social and political system characterized by an absolute monarchy, a stratified society, and an economic system based on agrarian subsistence. Religion held significant influence during this period.

Louis XIV

King Louis XIV of France, a member of the Bourbon dynasty, was a staunch supporter of absolute monarchy. He centralized legislative, executive, and judicial powers under his rule.

The Enlightenment

The Enlightenment, an intellectual movement that emerged spontaneously in 18th-century France, championed several key ideas:

• Trust in reason
• Faith in progress
• Belief in the power of education
• Nature as a guide for morality
• Criticism of the Ancien Regime, particularly its lack of separation of powers

The movement spread... Continue reading "The Age of Enlightenment and Revolutions: A Historical Overview" »

The Holocaust

Exclusion (1933-1939)

The first measure was the exclusion of Jews from public life, preventing them from earning a living. Books written by Jews were burned. In 1935, Hitler introduced the Nuremberg Laws, which deprived Jews of their German citizenship and banned marriage between Germans and Jews.

Ghettoes (1939-1940)

These were closed-off city neighborhoods where all Jewish residents were required to live together. The main ghettos were in Poland.

Extermination (1941-1945)

Jews were killed in gas chambers and cremation ovens.

The Peace Settlement

Yalta and Potsdam Conferences (1945)

1) Yalta

• Germany would be divided into occupied zones.
• Stalin promised to hold free elections in Eastern Europe, although they never took place.
• The USSR would

Isabella II reigned between 1843 and 1868. Her reign meant the consolidation of Spain as a liberal State. She always preferred the moderates to rule and she called them to government in 1844.

MODERATE DECADE (1844-1854)

The moderates ruled for a decade. The strong man of this period was General Narváez. In this period a liberal conservative and centralized State consolidated, with the support of the aristocracy, the Church and the conservative bourgeoisie.

A new Constitution was written in 1845: sovereignty was shared between the monarch and the people and the State identified with Catholic religion. All the State, except from the Basque Provinces and Navarre, was submitted to the same laws. Tax collection was improved, a Criminal Code was approved... Continue reading "Isabella II: Reign, Politics, and Downfall" »

How the principles & mission of NATO changed since 1949. Illustrate its 2010.

NATO was created in 1945 during the Cold War as a military alliance of countries from the EU and North America. It is currently the most highly organized security organization with 28 member countries, and its purpose is to safeguard the freedom and security of its members through political and military means.

After 1991, the main goal became to create democracies and a community of values by contributing to overall Euro-Atlantic security. On a political dimension, NATO promotes democratic values, encourages consultation and cooperation on defense and security issues. On the military level, if diplomatic efforts fail, the organization has the military capacity to... Continue reading "Evolution of NATO: From Cold War Alliance to 21st Century Security Organization" »