Notes, abstracts, papers, exams and problems of History

Cold War

Period permanently tense international relations between 1945 and 1991. The world was divided into 2 blocs:

Western Bloc

Leading by USA, had a political system based on democracy.

Eastern Bloc

By Soviet Union, a totalitarian regime and centrally planned economy.

Caract

Bipolar Order: The 2 superpowers had similar military destructive capabilities maintained tensions based on distrust, threats.

Arms Race: Rivalry between both superpowers for authority in countries within their area of influence.

Propaganda: Used extensive propaganda on countries in their area of influence to announce them of the dangers of the opposing bloc.

Regional Conflicts: Directly or indirectly resolved with responding superpower.

Espionage and Secret Services: The CIA and... Continue reading "The Cold War: A Bipolar World Divided" »

Greek Europe: A Lady Kidnapped by a Bull - 1944 First Inter Cooper Belgium, Luxem, Netherlands

Fathers of Europe

Jean Monnet and Robert Sch - ECSC (Coal and Steel) - 25th March 1975 Treaty of Rome, Economic Affairs - European Army - Plenary Session Strasbourg and Brussels - 1979 First Vote - European Economic Community (1name) - Norway is not member of EU - 2009 Constitution Replaced Treaty of Lisbon - Denmark and UK No Euro - Enter EU in 2007 Romania and Bulgaria - 2004 Vote Against to European Constitution France and Nether - Treaty EU Economic Stability Pact in 1992 was signed in Maastricht - Last to join in EU was Croatia - Referenda on the European Constitution in France and the Netherlands showed more trust in their national parliaments.... Continue reading "European Economic Community and Treaty of Rome" »

Key Terms of the French Revolution Era

The Enlightenment and Society

The Enlightenment: An eighteenth-century intellectual movement, led by the philosophes, that stressed the application of reason and the scientific method to question the accepted order of society, politics, and religion.

Secular: Not religious.

Scientific Method: A method of seeking knowledge using experiments and observations to develop generalizations.

Philosophes: Intellectuals of the eighteenth-century Enlightenment who believed in applying a spirit of rational criticism to all things, including religion and politics.

Separation of Powers: A doctrine enunciated by Montesquieu in the eighteenth century that separate executive, legislative, and judicial powers serve to limit and... Continue reading "Key Terms of the French Revolution Era: 18th Century" »

1.Fighting World War II

In the mid-1930s, it became clear that peace wouldn’t last For long. Japan invaded China, and in Europe, the raising of Nazi Germany under Adolph Hitler’s run posed a growing threat. Roosevelt had no choice other than Following the policy of “appeasement”, in hopes that agreeing to Hitler’s Demands would prevent war.When war broke out in Europe in 1939, Roosevelt reconsidered Entering the conflict, but the American citizens still opposed. In 1940, Congress agreed to allow the sale of arms to Britain. Opponents of involvement In Europe created the America First Committee, that included well-known figures Like Henry Ford and Charles A. Lindbergh. In 1940, Roosevelt won the elections and was the first President... Continue reading "Engines" »

Historical Sociology or Comparative History

Historical sociologists are interested in how modernization takes place. It's not the level of modernization that matters, but how it is achieved. They focus on class structure because they believe that the result of modernization will depend on the class structure of the country and the relations between different social groups. Groups will be benefited in different ways, so they analyze which social groups were more affected and benefited by democracy.

Barrington Moore and the Social Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy

Barrington Moore was the founder of this school and wrote the influential book Social Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy: Lord and Peasant in the Making of the Modern World in 1966.... Continue reading "Modernization & Social Class: A Comparative Historical Analysis" »

The SWW take place between 1939 and 1945.

It was called the total war because countries employed all the available resources to defeat the enemy, including human, military, economic, and scientific resources. War was waged against the whole population (military forces and civilian population).

Causes of World War II:

1. Nationalist Discontent: Germany was unhappy because of the Treaty of Versailles. This discontent gave rise to a desire to recover lost territories.
2. Economic Protectionism: During the Great Depression of the 1930s, European governments adopted protectionist policies to reduce imports. This increased tension between countries.
3. Expansionist Policies: Germany, Italy, and Japan wanted to expand their territories to acquire more raw materials

Key Events & Figures of the French Revolution

The Storming of the Bastille

The storming of the Bastille represents the revolution, the end of the Ancien Régime, and the beginning of the French Revolution. The people (representing the 98% of the population) rose against the king's power, provoking a huge social movement in France. The Bastille, the king's prison, symbolized royal power. This event occurred on July 14, 1789, and its impact is still felt today, as the French celebrate their National Holiday every year on this date.

The Tennis Court Oath

This event, which took place on June 20, 1789, during the French Revolution, symbolizes freedom, equality, and fraternity. It represents an inverted social pyramid where the people (98%) have... Continue reading "Understanding the French Revolution: Key Moments and Influential People" »

Causes

• The Treaty of Versailles signed: Germany was obliged to reduce military, pay reparations, and renounce territories.
• Hitler writes 'Mein Kampf': Aims to make Germany great again and plan for the Jews.
• The Global Depression begins: Mode dictators come to power.
• Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany democratically.
• Hitler begins to rebuild his army in secret.
• Abyssinia Invasion: Mussolini invades Abyssinia, leading to the League of Nations' downfall.
• Rhineland reoccupied.
• The Spanish Civil War: Germany rehearses arms and aircraft.
• Rome Berlin Axis: Hitler Mussolini Alliance.
• Anschluss with Austria: Annexation of Austria into Germany.
• The Munich Agreement: Sudetenland returned to Germany.
• 1939 Nazis invade Czechoslovakia, breaking the Munich Agreement.

The Role of Congress and the President

22. In the United States, the executive branch, separate from Congress, is not dependent on majority support.

23. In the United States, it is more difficult for a government to fall, resulting in early legislative elections.

Parliamentary Systems

24. In a parliament, leaders can obtain ministerial jobs, but could fail to re-nominate disloyal members.

25. In the United States, congressional members have less party loyalty and do not risk losing their seats.

Presidential Elections

26. From the 1820s to the 1850s, presidential elections would be temporary and weaker.

27. Roughly from the 1830s to the 1850s, the Democratic Party was elected by popular vote and supported a stronger national government, a national bank,