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

The Thirty Years' War: Origins and Escalation

The Thirty Years' War began as an internal revolt within the Holy Roman Empire, pitting Protestant Princes against the new Catholic Emperor, Ferdinand II.

The Spark: Bohemian Revolt

It all started in the Kingdom of Bohemia (modern-day Czech Republic) when Ferdinand II, a Catholic, was elected king in 1617. He soon began to restrict the religious freedom of the predominantly Protestant population by closing and forbidding the construction of Protestant churches. This made him very unpopular, especially among the Protestant nobles.

The Defenestration of Prague

In 1618, a group of Protestant nobles captured the king's representatives in Prague and threw them out of the palace window! Miraculously, they... Continue reading "The Thirty Years' War: Causes, Conflicts, and Consequences" »

Colonial Regions of America

• New England: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire
• Middle: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware
• Southern: Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia

Freedoms in Colonial America

• Religious Freedom: The right to choose a religion (or no religion) without interference by the government.
• Political Freedom: The right to express one’s views about public matters and the right to support or oppose public policies.
• Economic Freedom/Opportunity: The right of every human to control his or her own labor and property.
• Social Mobility: A person's ability to move to a different social class (higher, middle, lower).

Timeline of the American Revolution

1754: French and Indian War

Fighting between... Continue reading "American Revolution: Causes and Key Events 1754-1776" »

That-Clauses in English

Different Kinds and Functions of That-Clauses

Different kinds of that-clauses serve different functions in the English language.

Post-Predicate That-Clauses

That-clauses in the post-predicate position are the most common type. These clauses typically report human speech and thoughts.

Example: I think Stuart’s gone a bit mad.

Post-predicate that-clauses controlled by adjectives are less common than those controlled by verbs.

Subject Predicative That-Clauses

When a that-clause serves as a subject predicative to a copular verb, it usually has one of three functions:

1. Describing a problem: Example: The only problem may be that the compound is difficult to remove after use.
2. Presenting reasons, results, or conclusions: Example: Our

Causes:

• Root Causes:

  • Socio-economic imbalance
  • Privileged social groups opposed the Republicans' reforms
  • Workers' disillusionment at the slowness of Republican reforms
  • Tradition of army intervention

• Immediate Causes:

  • Political violence
  • Deterioration of public order
  • Coup led by Sanjurjo, Mola, Franco, Godet, Queipo de Llano

Supporters:

• In Favor of the Coup:
  • Anti-Republicans
  • Falangists
  • Monarchists
  • Landowners
  • Church
  • Part of the army
  • Traditionalists
• Against the Coup:
  • Part of the military
  • National Police
  • Assault Guard
  • Working class
  • Part of the middle class

International Intervention:

• France and UK remained neutral
• No intervention, no help
• Non-Intervention Committee
• USSR sent weapons and money to the Communist Party
• International Brigades to fight for democracy
• Germany and Italy

The Crusades: Expansion of Christianity in the Middle Ages

The Call to Arms

The expansion of Christianity during the Middle Ages extended beyond Europe to the eastern Mediterranean through a series of religious wars known as the Crusades. Occurring between the late 11th and early 13th centuries, these wars were sponsored by the papacy with the primary goal of reclaiming Jerusalem, the holy city, from Muslim control. In the 11th century, the papacy had compelling reasons to initiate an expedition against Muslims in the East. Such an endeavor would solidify the pope's claim as the leader of Christian society in the West. Furthermore, a significant theological rift had divided the Greek Church of Byzantium and the Roman Church of the West in 1054.... Continue reading "The Crusades: A Medieval Religious and Political Movement" »

The Gunpowder Plot of 1605

King James I faced pressure from the Protestant elite, leading him to renege on promises made to Catholics. Frustrated by persecution, they sought to establish a Catholic monarch, resulting in the Gunpowder Plot. This plot aimed to assassinate the King by detonating explosives in the English Parliament. The plot was foiled by the discovery of the Monteagle Letter, which warned of the impending danger. The conspirators were subsequently tortured, confessed, and executed, worsening the situation for Catholics.

Charles I and the English Civil Wars

James I died in 1625, succeeded by his son, Charles I. In 1641, Irish Catholics revolted, causing panic in England. Tensions between Charles and Parliament escalated over financial... Continue reading "Gunpowder Plot and English Civil Wars: Causes and Consequences" »

From Roman Britain to Anglo-Saxon England

From the 1st through the 5th centuries, England was a province of the Roman Empire called Britannia. These Britons adapted to the Roman lifestyle and civilization, but some ruins remained. The withdrawal of the Roman Legions left the island vulnerable, creating an opportunity for invaders. In the 5th century, three Germanic tribes arrived in Britain: the Angles, the Saxons, and the Jutes.

The Anglo-Saxon Arrival and Conquest

The Anglo-Saxon conquest was gradual, a process extending over decades of fighting against the native Britons, who were mostly confined to the regions of Wales.

The Return of Christianity

The Britons converted to Christianity, like the rest of the Empire, when in the 4th century, Emperor... Continue reading "Anglo-Saxon England: History, Christianity, Literature" »

The Vietnam War: Origins of the Conflict

Vietnam, formerly known as Indochina, was under French rule until World War II. The first significant challenge to French power occurred in 1930 with a rebellion. However, the major turning point came in 1940 when France was defeated in World War II, leading to Japanese occupation of Vietnam's key resources.

Rise of Ho Chi Minh and the Viet Minh

During the war, an anti-communist movement emerged under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh. In 1920, he studied communism in the USSR and later founded the Indochinese Communist Party in 1930, inspiring the Vietnamese people to fight for independence. In 1945, the Viet Minh, led by Ho Chi Minh, entered Hanoi and declared Vietnamese independence.

French Return and the