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

The Russian Revolution

In 1917, the Russian Empire went through a revolutionary process which put an end to the autocratic government of Tsar Nicholas II.

Before the Revolution

In 1900, the Russian Empire had the following characteristics:

• The government was autocratic.
• The economy was semi-feudal.
• There was social unrest.

The Causes of the Revolution

During the rule of Tsar Nicholas II (1894-1917), his autocratic power decreased for various reasons:

• The Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905): Russia and Japan fought for control of Manchuria. The war was unpopular because new taxes were imposed in order to pay for the conflict.
• The appearance of political parties: Despite being forbidden, various political parties were created which opposed the Tsar.
• The 1905

The Worcester Chronicle: 11th Century England

A Pivotal Historical Source

This fragment is from a bilingual edition of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, one of only two sources documenting English history from the Roman period to the Norman Conquest. It was originally written in Old English, the language introduced to England by Anglo-Saxon culture.

During the 9th century, King Alfred the Great promoted Old English as a literary and cultural language (Latin had, until then, been considered of higher value). He organized the Scholarly Circle, which began translating and writing in Old English for the first time. As a result, the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle was compiled: a historical chronicle written year by year, organized into annals, containing a vast amount... Continue reading "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle: 11th Century England & Norman Conquest" »

Joseph Pulitzer: Pioneer of Popular Press

Born in Hungary in 1847, Joseph Pulitzer, a Jewish immigrant, initially sought to join European armies but was unsuccessful. At 17, he left home for the USA, intending to fight in the American Civil War, but arrived after its conclusion.

His career began at the Westliche Post, a German-language newspaper for immigrants in St. Louis, Missouri. By age 20, he had obtained American citizenship. He then joined the St. Louis Dispatch, where he honed sensationalist techniques. Soon after, he purchased the Dispatch and merged it with the Evening Post, creating the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Shaping Sensationalism and Reform

This newspaper became the platform where he developed the journalistic formula that brought... Continue reading "Titans of American Journalism: Pulitzer and Hearst's Enduring Legacy" »

Italian Unification

Background

In 1848, Italy was divided into seven kingdoms. There was a strong desire to unify the country, but discussions arose about who should lead the process:

• The Pope (Pius IX) was considered, but he refused to fight against the Austrians.
• The King of Piedmont, governed by the House of Savoy, was the other option.

Ultimately, the House of Savoy was chosen to lead the unification process.

1st Stage (1859-1861)

Piedmont, under its Prime Minister Cavour, secured the support of France (Napoleon III) in exchange for Nice and Savoy. The Austrians were defeated in Magenta and Solferino, leading to the annexation of Lombardy and Central Italy by the Italians. In the south, Garibaldi, with his "Thousand Red Shirts" (or "Expedition... Continue reading "Italian and German Unification in the 19th Century" »

From Lenin to Stalin: Soviet Political Transformation

Creation of the Third International (Comintern)

After the Russian Revolution, the Bolsheviks argued that European socialist parties had changed. Their aim was not primarily the destruction of capitalism; rather, the Bolsheviks defended the need to renew Marxism in Europe. They proposed the foundation of a new workers' international. In 1919 the Comintern (Third International) was founded. This proposal created divisions within socialist parties.

Expansion of the Communist Revolution

Lenin and Trotsky believed that the Soviet revolution might not hold if it did not spread to other countries. The most important attempts at revolutionary communist insurrection occurred in Germany. Their goal... Continue reading "Lenin to Stalin: Rise of the Soviet State and Stalinism" »

PSOE Members Overwhelmingly Approve Coalition with Unidas Podemos

The militants of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) have approved this Saturday by an overwhelming majority the agreement signed between Pedro Sanchez and Pablo Iglesias for a coalition government of the Socialist party with Unidas Podemos.

The agreement of the Socialists with the formation of Iglesias last November 12 has obtained the support of 92% of the militants who have voted, as reported by socialist sources to 98% of the scrutiny.

PSOE Consultation Results

The consultation of the bases, which is binding, according to the federal statutes of the PSOE, has had a participation of 63%, almost 12 points higher than the 2016 consultation when the PSOE asked the militancy... Continue reading "PSOE Members Approve Coalition with Unidas Podemos" »

Foundations of British North American Colonies

Initial Settlement and Land Ownership

When did the English first settle in North America? 1607.

Who owned the newly colonized land? Proprietors.

The English Crown did not want to spend money colonizing new lands, so they offered the opportunity to proprietors to colonize using their own funds.

Defining Salutary Neglect

What is Salutary Neglect? Britain allowing the colonies to govern themselves with minimal interference.

Egalitarianism and Settler Equality

Were all settlers equal in North America? Yes, because it was an egalitarian society. Everybody had the same rights and opportunities, and they earned their own reputation.

What does egalitarian mean? Egalitarian means that people were equal between them,... Continue reading "Early American Colonization: Society, Politics, and Costs" »

Theme: Progress

Text analysis: Persuasion

Technique:

• Logical appeal: this technique uses reason and evidence to support a position.
• Emotional appeal: This technique creates strong feelings, such as fear and anger, to influence readers' opinions.
• Ethical appeal: This technique refers to values and principles which the reader is likely to believe in strongly.

Reading skill: Recognize ideas

Victorian writers use complex sentences filled with phrases, clauses, and modifiers.

Strategies:

• Clarify meaning by identifying the main subject and verb of a sentence.
• Watch for patterns in the text, such as repeated sentence structures, that the author uses to organize thoughts.
• Once you identify the idea of a passage, reread it. Consider the details you initially skipped

Identify Key Figures

• Alcalá Zamora: First president of the republican government and first resident of the republic.
• Lerroux: Leader of the Radical Party and head of the government during the consecutive biennium.
• Largo Caballero: President of the republic in September 1936.
• Franco: Military leader who started leading the rebels in October 1936.
• Negrín: President of the republic in 1937 with the support of the communists.

Define Key Concepts

• Popular Front: Coalition of left-wing republicans to contest the elections of February 1936.
• Militia: Voluntary civilian force organized by unions or political parties who fought in the war on the side of the republic.
• Problem of Land Ownership: Problem consisted of hundreds of thousands of landless workers living

The Fourteenth Amendment

The Fourteenth Amendment granted citizenship rights to all people born in the United States.

The Fifteenth Amendment

The Fifteenth Amendment prohibited states from depriving citizens the right to vote based on race.

The Impeachment of Andrew Johnson

President Andrew Johnson was impeached by the House of Representatives, but was acquitted by the Senate by one vote.

Plessy v. Ferguson

The Supreme Court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) that racial segregation laws for public facilities were constitutional as long as the segregated facilities were equal in quality.

Jim Crow Laws

Jim Crow laws were a system of laws that enforced racial segregation in the Southern United States.

The Thirteenth Amendment

The Thirteenth Amendment abolished... Continue reading "A Comprehensive Overview of American History: Key Events and Turning Points" »