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

The Russian Revolution

Key Definitions

Theocentrism

Considers God or divinity the center of all human reality.

Mercantilism

An economic system in which precious metals constitute the essential wealth of states.

Anthropocentrism

A concept that considers humans the center of all created things and the absolute end of creation.

Capitalism

An economic and social system based on private property and the free market.

Social Contract

An implicit agreement among members of a society to cooperate for social benefits.

Separation of Powers

A political idea that separates the legislative, executive, and judicial branches to ensure fairness in the system.

Physiocracy

An economic theory, in opposition to mercantilism, that argued the wealth of nations comes only from agricultural and manufacturing... Continue reading "Key Historical Events & Concepts: Revolution and Enlightenment" »

Industrialization in Basque Country

Industrialization in Basque Country would not have happened without concert's economic support. The Industrial Revolution slowly developed and began in the mid-19th century in Biscay. Industrialization in Basque country had huge social consequences. The most important was that instead of exporting men as before, the region began to exhibit an increase in demand for a labor force in its new factories. Industrialization process changed demographic terms, with substantial social, cultural, and political implications for the future.

1Following the last Carlist War, the preservation of Fueros persisted until 1876, when Cánovas del Castillo mandated provinces to contribute to the Treasury. Foral Councils were replaced... Continue reading "Industrialization and Social Changes in Basque Country" »

Bolsheviks: Origins and Ideology

The Bolsheviks were a Russian socialist party that supported Marxism-Leninism. Their ideology held that it was possible to perform a revolution and establish a socialist regime without waiting for the collapse of capitalism. In 1918, they renamed themselves the Communist Party. Vladimir Lenin was the leader of the Bolsheviks. He played an important role in the Revolution of 1905 but was forced into exile in Switzerland until his return to Russia in April 1917.

The October Revolution of 1917

The October Revolution was the second phase of the internal revolt that occurred in Russia in 1917. It was organized by the Bolsheviks, led by Lenin. This revolution was essentially a coup against the Russian Republic created... Continue reading "Key Concepts of 20th Century History: 1917-1945" »

Q 8. What are the objectives of military alliances? Give an example of a functioning military alliance with its specific objectives. Ans.

The objectives of military alliances are:

• Alliance building is an important component of traditional security to threats to deal between states and nations to deter or defend against military attacks.
• Alliances are formalised in written treaties and identification of who constitutes the threat.
• Countries form alliances to increase their effective power relative to another country or alliance.
• Alliances are based on national interests and can change when national interests change.

For example, the US backed the Islamic militants in Afghanistan against the Soviet Union in 1980s but later attacked them when Al-Qaeda,... Continue reading "Military Alliances, Environmental Degradation, and Nuclear Weapons: Global Security Issues" »

The Pilgrim Fathers (Mayflower)

Religious English group formed by the end of the 16th century that, being dissatisfied with the political-religious environment, decided to emigrate, first to Leiden and after to the New World. Left from Plymouth's port in the Mayflower ship on August 15th, 1620 and, traversing the Atlantic Ocean, pretended to get to Jamestown colony, but a storm prevented it and they arrived at Cape Cod. Shortly after, they founded Plymouth. They were gathered by the Puritan Calvinist Church and took refuge from religious persecution and political instability from Europe. (The name was from a biblical passage).

Declaration of Independence

Statement adopted by the 2nd Continental Congress meeting at the Pennsylvania State House... Continue reading "The Pilgrim Fathers, Declaration of Independence, War of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights, Civil War" »

Consequences of the Great Depression

• Wealthy investors lost significant amounts of money due to their substantial investments.
• Speculators defaulted on loans, leading to bank failures.
• The economic downturn caused widespread depression, eroding public confidence and leading to a decline in bank deposits. This forced banks to demand repayment of loans from businesses, resulting in production cuts, wage reductions, and unemployment.
• The decline in consumer spending led to a drop in food prices.
• The United States faced reduced exports due to the impact of the Depression on other countries and the imposition of tariffs on imported goods.

The 1932 Presidential Election

President Hoover's Policies

• Attempted to persuade businesses to maintain wages.
• Reduced

Philip II: Architect of the Spanish Empire

In 1556, Charles V (Charles I of Spain) abdicated the throne. His son, Philip II, inherited all his territories, except Austria and the title of Emperor. In 1580, Philip II incorporated Portugal into the Crown of Castile.

Despite losing the imperial title, Philip II sought to maintain the hegemony of the Habsburgs in Europe through the economic and military strength of Castile. He also initiated numerous wars to challenge the Protestants and the Ottoman Empire.

Centralizing Power and Administration

To administer such a vast empire, Philip II centralized government and established Madrid as its capital. He utilized various government institutions to aid his rule and enhance his authority. The king never... Continue reading "Philip II: Consolidating Power in the Spanish Empire" »

Axis Powers

Axis powers: It was an alliance led by Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Japan. They all had dictatorial regimes.

German-Soviet Pact

German-Soviet Pact: The German-Soviet Pact or Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact was a non-aggression agreement signed by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union one week before the WWII. It included a secret clause to invade Poland at the same time and to distribute Eastern Europe.

Blitzkrieg

Blitzkrieg: The blitzkrieg was a new war tactic developed by Germany before the WWII and used since its beginning. It was based on the use of planes, the fast advance of tanks, and the occupation of the land by soldiers later. The troop advance was extremely fast and thanks to it, Germany occupied most of Europe between 1939-1941.

Battle