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

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,

UNIT 1: The Spanish Constitution of 1812

As the principal aim of the new constitution was the prevention of arbitrary and corrupt royal rule, it provided for a limited monarchy which governed through ministers subject to parliamentary control. Suffrage favored the position of the commercial class. The constitution set up a rational and efficient centralized administrative system. So the 1812 Constitution established the principles of universal suffrage, national sovereignty, constitutional monarchy, freedom of the press, and supported land reform and free enterprise.

UNIT 2: The Rise of Liberalism in Spain

The liberals of this period were divided into two sides:

Divisions within Liberalism

• Sovereignty: Parliament and Monarch / National Sovereignty
• Setting

Historical Context Before World War II

Asia and the Pacific

From a Western perspective, Japan was becoming increasingly important in the early 1900s, rapidly expanding its territory. In 1910, Japan occupied Korea, followed by Manchuria in 1931, establishing a puppet state under its control. Meanwhile, China was embroiled in a civil war between nationalists and communists. Japan seized this opportunity to invade China in 1930. The Second Sino-Japanese War officially began in 1937, prompting a temporary halt to the Chinese civil war as both sides united to fight against the Japanese invasion.

Europe

: in 1930 (hitler) Germany the Nazis had an Allie whit Italy (Benito Mussolini), heated by the communists and liked by the nationalist, 1938 the proces... Continue reading "The Road to World War II: From Aggression to Global Conflict" »

Proportional Representation vs. Plurality

Proportional representation (PR) systems aim to allocate seats in a legislature based on the proportion of votes received by each party. In contrast, plurality systems award seats to the candidate or party with the most votes in each district, regardless of the margin of victory.

PR systems tend to produce more representative legislatures, as they allow smaller parties to gain representation. Plurality systems, on the other hand, often result in one party winning a majority of seats even if they do not receive a majority of the votes.

The American Labor and Liberal Parties

The American Labor and Liberal Parties were minor political parties that emerged in the early 20th century. These parties represented... Continue reading "Electoral Systems and Political Parties in the United States" »

Key Events in Early American History (1784-1865)

Late 18th Century

• State of Franklin (John Sevier) - 1784-1790
• Shay's Rebellion - 1786-1787
• Federalists (Favor ratifying Constitution, strong central government)
• North Carolina Ratification Conventions (1 & 2) - 1788/1789
• Federalist/Democratic (Alexander Hamilton) - 1788 (Federalist Papers)
• Republicans (Thomas Jefferson) - 1790 (American political party)

Early 19th Century

• Dismal Swamp Canal - 1805 (Important route of commerce)
• Whiskey Rebellion - 1791 (Tax protest in US)
• Treaty of Greenville (Fallen Timbers) - 1814 (Treaty of Paris/Friendship US/Natives)
• Jay Treaty - 1794-1795 (Settle issues between US and Great Britain)
• Revolution of 1800 (Adams vs. Jefferson)
• Embargo Act - 1807
• War of 1812 (US and Great