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

Walt Whitman

• Born in New York into a laboring family of agriculturists (the working class.)
• His family has nine children and he was the second childegan working at the age of 12 as a printer in Brooklyn and New York City.
• Became a journalist and editor of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle in NY. He was later fired because he supported the antislavery Free Soil faction of the Democratic Party.
• Traveled via the Mississippi River to Louisiana and worked on the Crescent and later returned to NY.
• Saw many Shakespeare plays
• Back in NY he began experimenting with a new style of poetry
• Published his first edition of Leaves of Grass in 1855 with no publisher nor author name.
• The third edition of 1860 included Calamus and Premonition later called Started from Pumanok.

The Indispensable United Nations

Despite its shortcomings, the UN remains crucial for:

• Facilitating dialogue between the US and the world
• Addressing conflicts and promoting development
• Modifying US policies
• Providing a platform for international cooperation
• Addressing global interdependence
• Enhancing planetary interdependence
• Supporting international peace and understanding

Reforming the Security Council

Arguments for restructuring:

• The Security Council's role in UN functioning
• Changing power dynamics with the disintegration of the USSR
• Privileged position of permanent members
• Veto power of permanent members
• Need for representation from developing countries

Threats to Security in the Third and First Worlds

Third World:

• Military conflicts with neighboring states
• Internal

George Washington

Born on February 22, 1732, in Westmoreland County, Virginia, George Washington served as a general and became the first president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797.

Battle at Bunker Hill

The Battle of Bunker Hill was fought on June 17, 1775, during the Siege of Boston in the early stages of the American Revolutionary War.

The Invasion of Quebec

On December 31, 1775, during the American Revolutionary War (1775-83), Patriot forces under Colonel Benedict Arnold (1741-1801) and General Richard Montgomery (1738-75) attempted to capture the British-occupied city of Quebec and with it win support for the American cause in Canada.

The Staten Island Peace Conference

The Staten Island Peace Conference was a brief meeting held... Continue reading "Key Events and Figures of the American Revolution" »

The Rise of Islam

Origins and Expansion

Islam originated in the Arabian Peninsula, where Arab farmers and traders worshipped multiple gods. Mecca served as their religious center. Muhammad, born in Mecca, emerged as a prophet of Allah (God). Despite facing persecution in Mecca for his teachings, Muhammad's message spread, marking the beginning of Islam.

In 622 CE, Muhammad's escape to Medina (the Hijra) marked the start of the Muslim era. He successfully converted the people of Medina, and by his death in 632 CE, a significant portion of the Arab population had embraced Islam.

The Koran and Islamic Society

The Koran, the sacred book of Islam, emphasizes the oneness of Allah. Islamic society's core principles, derived from the Koran, include:

• Allah'

Source: Thomas Walsingham's Historia Anglicana

The text provided is a fragment from Historia Anglicana II, written by Thomas Walsingham in 1395, although it's said that it wasn’t entirely written by him. He was an English Benedictine monk and chronicler at St Albans Abbey, and he is well known for his works. This one tells us about the period during the reign of Richard II, and the text refers to the Peasants' Revolt, an important event. The story is relevant because it reflects the spirit of the people of the period. The text focuses on how people were influenced by John Ball, an English Lollard priest and a leader of the peasants, and the new way of thinking among the population.

England Under Richard II: Context of the Revolt

In 1377, King... Continue reading "England's 1381 Peasants' Revolt" »

Origins

Division of the Middle East between European powers after the Ottoman Empire collapses (1918-1920).

The first country to fight for independence from the OE was Greece (with the help of Britain, France, and Russia who all had interest in Ottoman territory).

[Important for KSA] Hussein Bin Ali (Hashemite dynasty): Sharif of Mecca was asked by the Young Turks to get involved and help them (acknowledging the Jihad). But, he said that he would only do this if they united into one Arab state. Turks didn’t agree and left him. British, on the other side, offered him just what he wanted if he rebelled towards Turkey. He mobilized Arabs to revolt and put his son in charge along with Lawrence of Arabia. This was an important factor in the end of... Continue reading "Sykes-Picot Agreement: Origins, Impact, and Legacy" »

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" »