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

Authoritarianism and Totalitarianism

In Germany, Italy, and the USSR, authoritarian dictatorships came to power. In these regimes, power was concentrated in the hands of a supreme leader and one ruling political party. In some cases, these evolved into totalitarian regimes.

Factors Contributing to the Rise of Authoritarianism

• The First World War had established habits of military organization.
• The war had aroused nationalist feeling.
• The power of the state increased during the crisis of 1929.
• New parties were formed that represented the working mass.

Common Characteristics of Authoritarian Regimes

• Politics: They were anti-democratic governments.
• Foreign policy: They pursued an expansionist foreign policy to gain new territories.
• Economy: The state intervened

The Enduring Impact of History and Religion on Society

Both history and religion have played a significant role in shaping contemporary society. Crucially, the effects of the slave trade continue to impact the world significantly today. James Baldwin, David Walker, and Barack Obama are all significant figures in the movement for equality in America, though they operated in different time periods.

James Baldwin: The American Optic

James Baldwin, an American novelist and essayist, focused extensively on the experience of being Black in America. He articulated the pervasive societal message:

All you are ever told in this country about being black is that it is a terrible thing to be and that the whole American optic is based on the necessity of keeping

Sigma Nu Fraternity: A Comprehensive History

Founders

• Alpha 1: James Frank Hopkins (Born December 30th, 1845, in Ripley, Mississippi)
• Alpha 2: Greenfield Quarles (Born April 1st, 1847, in Helena, Arkansas)
• Alpha 3: James McIlvaine Riley (Born December 16th, 1849, in St. Louis, Missouri)

Key Figures

• Spiritual Founder: Francis H. Smith (Also known as "Specs")
• Keeper of the Rock: Ora Mathias Baldinger
• Author of the Creed: Walter James Sears
• First Legacy: John Carmichael Jr.
• Founder of the Delta Chapter: John Alexander Howard
• Designer of the Coat of Arms: Ellwood H. McClelland

Founding and Milestones

• Spiritual Founding: One starry night by the rock at VMI in October 1868
• Public Founding: January 1st, 1869
• Original Name: The Legion of Honor
• First National Convention:

Causes

• Morocco problem: Conference of Algeciras 1906 and Spanish army suffered 2 humiliating defeats (Barranco del Lobo 1909 and Disaster of Annual 1921)
• Picasso report: Commission was open to investigate who was responsible for the defeat of Annual
• Social crisis: Strikes of workers in Cataluña and peasants in Andalucía due to better work conditions
• Hard repression: Armed groups in Barcelona and Guardia against peasants in Andalusia
• Social war broke out: Prime Minister Eduardo was killed by an anarchist in 1921

Coup d'etat: 1923

Primo de Rivera organized a coup with the consent and support of the king, conservative politicians, and industrial and landowners. Before the coup, he had substituted civil public workers with people from the army. He claimed... Continue reading "Primo de Rivera Dictatorship: Causes, Coup, and Crisis" »

Global Drug Trafficking Routes and Production

Opiates

• Main Producers: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Laos (LA).
• Major Routes:
  • Balkan Route: South Asia (SA) to the European Union (EU).
  • Southern Route: South Asia (SA) via maritime and airborne transport.
  • Northern Route: Afghanistan (Afg) to Post-Soviet states.
  • Golden Triangle: Southeast Asia to China and Oceania.
  • Americas Route: Mexico to North America (NA), Colombia to South America (SA).

Cocaine

• Main Producers: Colombia, Peru, Bolivia.
• Main Consumers: North America (NA), European Union (EU).
• Routes:
  • To North America: Primarily by land through Central America.
  • To Europe: Originating in Brazil, Colombia, and Ecuador. Entry points into Europe include Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands.

Cannabis and Synthetic Drugs

• Cannabis

Bolsheviks

The Bolshevik movement arose during the crisis of the Tsarist Empire. Dissatisfaction at the political level was due to the autocratic government of the Tsars and led to political opposition made up of liberal bourgeois parties and Marxist revolutionary parties.

Soviets

Soviets were assemblies of workers and soldiers during the Russian Revolution.

USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics)

The USSR was created in 1912 (comprising Russia and Asian republics). It was organized as a federal state and adopted the NEP (New Economic Policy), which combined capitalist and communist policies.

Dawes Plan

This plan established a circular flow of payments designed to stabilize post-WWI reparations:

• The U.S. lent money to Germany to pay reparations.

1. German Reactions to the Treaty of Versailles

Why did Germans react with horror to the terms of the treaty?

• They were forced to accept full responsibility for the beginning of the war (War Guilt Clause).
• They were forced to accept paying reparations without knowing the exact amount of money they were going to have to pay (they felt like they were signing a blank check).
• They were forced to disarm and their pride had been damaged.
• They were not invited to negotiate at the Paris Peace Conference, so they signed a diktat.
• They considered the treaty was unfair because the Allies did not disarm and self-determination was not respected with the German people.
• They felt insulted because they were not invited to the League of Nations.
• Their economy was damaged

EUTM Mali Mission Analysis and Survey Results

The main purpose of this report is to provide an analysis of the important aspects of the EUTM Mali mission. Furthermore, the report outlines the results of a survey conducted among several members who participated in this mission.

Mission Mandate and Command Structure

The nature of this mission is twofold:

• To provide military advice to combat terrorist threats in Mali.
• As a secondary objective, the European Union aims to prevent smuggling originating from Africa.

The chain of command rotates, changing every two years, with a different European country taking charge of the mission.

Operational Deficiencies

Several significant deficiencies within the mission need to be addressed to ensure greater effectiveness... Continue reading "EUTM Mali Mission Analysis: Challenges, Successes, and Future Strategy" »

Fascism vs. Nazism

Fascism and Nazism are often considered to be the same or at least refer to the same ideologies. However, the two are entirely dissimilar from each other. This is despite the fact that they are both totalitarian ideologies, are closely related in design, and both sprung up after the First World War in Europe.

What is Fascism?

Fascism is defined as a form of radical authoritarian, strict, and controlling ultra-nationalism that is usually characterized by forcibly suppressing an opposition front, assuming dictatorial powers, and strongly regimenting the society and its economy.

Fascism sprung to popularity around the early 20th century during the time of Benito Mussolini. Benito was the Italian leader by the time the ideology was... Continue reading "Fascism and Nazism: Key Differences and History" »

The Great Depression: Causes and Impact

At the end of the 1920s, a series of problems in the US caused a major economic crisis, known as the Great Depression. This crisis lasted until the end of the 1930s and brought an end to the prosperous, consumer lifestyle of the previous decade.

Problems Leading to the Crisis:

• Overproduction: American industry produced more goods than the population needed. When companies could not sell their products, they went bankrupt and had to close.
• Falling Consumption: When companies closed down, people lost their jobs and stopped spending money. Rising unemployment reduced demand for consumer goods and the raw materials used to make them, leading to more companies going out of business.
• The Wall Street Crash: When