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

1. THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION:

• The United Kingdom has 13 colonies on the east coast of North America. Britain wanted raw materials from their colonies and held a monopoly on trade. The colonies were subjected to the authority of the British king, imposed taxes on the settlers, and the settlers were not represented in the British Parliament.
• The US Declaration of Independence: 1776, on 4^th July, representatives of the 13 colonies signed the Declaration of Independence.
• The War of Independence and the First Constitution: The colonies, led by General George Washington, won decisive victories. Britain recognized the United States as an independent nation. The United States of America Constitution was the first in history; it established national sovereignty

Key Historical Vocabulary

1. Crisis: A situation that is extremely difficult or dangerous, often characterized by numerous problems.
2. Dictatorship: A form of government in which one person or a small group possesses absolute power without effective constitutional limitations.
3. Roaring Twenties: A period when society was returning to normalcy after the First World War, marked by rapid economic growth and significant social change.
4. Uprising: An act of opposition, sometimes involving violence, by many people in a specific area of a country against those in power.
5. Corruption: Illegal, unethical, or dishonest behavior, particularly by individuals in positions of power.
6. Protectorate: A region or political unit controlled by another, or the government by which

The people, mostly *Criollos*, demanded that these meetings be open, not exclusively for colonial authorities. The establishment of the juntas marked the beginning of the movement towards independence.

Causes of Independence

• Latin American cities experienced significant growth, particularly large commercial centers and cities housing government seats or courts of law.
• The urban middle class embraced liberal ideas discussed in their newspapers. They were inspired by the French Revolution and the independence of the United States, admiring these nations while viewing Spain as a symbol of absolutism.
• *Criollos* felt marginalized by colonial authorities, as they were denied the most important government positions.
• Great Britain sought access to the

THE POLICY OF APPEASEMENT

Chamberlain returns from Munich and says he has saved world peace for a long time, waving a paper in which Hitler promised he didn't have more territorial demands in Czechoslovakia. A year later, Germany invades Czechoslovakia.

What is Appeasement?

A diplomatic policy of making political or material concessions to an aggressive power to avoid conflict. It was a total failure. It is applied to the foreign policy of the UK governments in the 1930s, towards the Nazis and Fascists in Italy.

Failure (future perspective):

Why appease Hitler?

• The League of Nations abandoned Czechoslovakia
• Britain is not prepared for war with the Luftwaffe
• Munich was followed by more Nazi demands and attacks
• The Czechs had 36 divisions ready to fight

1921, hungary dictatrship by Horty. 1922, Italy by Mussolini. 1923,Spain by Primo de Rivera. 1926, poland by Pilsduki. 1929, Yugoslava by Alexander I. 1932, Portugal by Salazar. 1933, Germany by Hitler, Austria by Dollfus. 1936, Greece by Metaxas. 1939, Spain by Franco.

1931, Japan occupies Manchuria. 1933, Hitler cancellor. 1935, Italy invades ethipia. 1936, Rome-berlin axis, anti-commitern pact. 1938, Germany annexes autsria, munich conference. 1939, germany annexes czechoslovakia, nazi soviet pact.

1940 (MAY) germany occupies netherlands and belgium. (JUNE) germany occupies paris. (JULY) start battle britain. (OCT) italy invades greece. 1941 (JUNE) germany invades the ussr. (DEC) japan attack pearl harbour.

1942, battle of midway and el alemin....

Roman Expansion and Mediterranean Dominance

As Rome expanded through Italy, it granted its citizen-soldiers land, allowed defeated Latin-speakers to become full citizens, and welcomed defeated soldiers into its army. By 272 B.C.E., Rome had conquered the Italian peninsula. Victory in the Second Punic War gave Rome control of the Western Mediterranean. Rome's defeat of the Macedonians and the Greeks in 133 B.C.E. brought it control of the Eastern Mediterranean.

Rome's Longevity, Transformation, and Decline

Rome's empire persisted for so long because of its rulers’ willingness to adopt new structures, such as the Principate and Diocletian's Tetrarchy. Emperor Constantine strengthened the empire but weakened the city of Rome by establishing a new...

Mexico has voted for a change and got it. Andrés Manuel López Obrador won the elections by a wide margin and MORENA obtained the majority at the federal level in the chamber of deputies and senators. This practically leaves the country without counterweights, only with the judiciary as hope to exercise responsible opposition.

Although MORENA dominates the chamber of deputies, the presidency of the same indicates, according to the regulations, that the rotation of the board of directors must go in order according to the majorities, so this year it is up to the National Action Party. That has happened in recent years without fail, however, MORENA, with its overwhelming majority, intended that the current president of the Chamber of Deputies,

The French Revolution: A Timeline

The Assembly of Notables

Why did that happen?

France was in a dire state due to wars. King Louis XVI called upon the nobles to convince them of a new financial plan.

What was it?

The Assembly of Notables was a group of important nobles who tried to solve France's tax problems but failed to reach a solution.

Why does it matter?

This was the last Assembly of Notables. It did not solve anything. It led to Louis XVI dismissing his finance minister and calling the Estates-General.

Meeting of the Estates-General (1789)

Why did that happen?

France still needed to find a way to raise money. Louis XVI called the Estates-General to address France's financial crisis.

What were the Estates-General?

It was a meeting of the general...

The American Revolution (1775-1783)

Origins of the War

The American Revolutionary War, also known as the American War of Independence, was fought between Great Britain and the thirteen American colonies, which ultimately founded the United States of America. The war stemmed from the resistance of many Americans to taxes imposed by the British Parliament, which they deemed illegal.

The Boston Tea Party

A pivotal event in the escalating tensions was the Boston Tea Party, a political protest that took place in Boston on December 16, 1773. Rebels disguised as American Indians boarded ships carrying tea and destroyed an entire shipment sent in defiance of the Tea Act of 1773. They threw the tea into Boston Harbor, ruining it. The British government...