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

Life in France Before the Revolution

Peasants

In the countryside, French agriculture (farming) in the 1600s was less effective and less modernized than other European countries. They used out-of-date methods and made much less profit. Almost all peasants who worked on farms couldn't read or write and worked long, brutal hours for a poor quality of life. City peasants were homeless, criminals, thieves, and prostitutes.

Bourgeoisie

The bourgeoisie was France's middle class. Many were businessmen and merchants. However, their ability to make a profit was severely hampered by laws and regulations. Some individuals and groups (guilds) held advantages (monopolies) over the production of certain goods.

Nobility

Noble Rank

Clergy

Christian Church

Louis XIV

Causes of the French Revolution

The Influence of Enlightenment

French intellectuals and the bourgeoisie supported Enlightenment ideas and tried to put them into practice. For example, they demanded that all French subjects be free and equal under the law.

The Political Crisis

In France, the Estates General brought together representatives of the realm to advise the king on important issues, such as tax increases. Both the clergy (1st Estate) and nobility (2nd Estate) had 300 representatives and one vote in the Estates General. The middle class and peasantry (3rd Estate) had 600 representatives and only one vote.

King Louis XVI governed France as an absolute monarch and opposed meetings of the Estates General. For that reason, the Estates of the... Continue reading "Causes of the French Revolution: A Deep Dive" »

Versailles Treaty vs. Marshall Plan: Economic Outcomes

Treaty of Versailles (1919)

The Treaty of Versailles, signed in June 1919, aimed to punish Germany for its role in World War I. The treaty imposed harsh reparations on Germany, totaling 6.6 billion pounds. Germany also lost significant territories, colonies, and its military forces. This punitive approach fostered resentment and economic instability in Germany.

Marshall Plan (1947)

In contrast, the Marshall Plan, launched in June 1947, focused on cooperation and economic recovery in post-WWII Europe. The United States provided $17 billion in aid to European nations, including those devastated by the war. The plan aimed to help Western Europe rebuild its infrastructure, revive agriculture and... Continue reading "Versailles Treaty vs. Marshall Plan: A Comparative Analysis" »

Axis Advantages at the Start of WWII in Europe and Asia

At the beginning of World War II, the Axis powers, primarily Germany and Japan, held significant advantages in Europe and Asia. These advantages stemmed from a combination of military preparedness, technological advancements, and strategic positioning.

Germany's Military Advantage

Germany's advantage lay in its significantly larger armed forces, equipped with modern weapons and employing modern tactics. Following World War I, European countries, including Britain and the United States, demobilized much of their armed forces throughout the 1920s. However, after Hitler's rise to power in 1933, and in direct violation of the Treaty of Versailles, Germany began rebuilding its military might.... Continue reading "Axis Advantages and Allied Victory in World War II" »

War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714)

The War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714) was fought among several European powers, principally the Holy Roman Empire, Great Britain, the Dutch Republic, Portugal, and the Duchy of Savoy, against the Kingdoms of France and Spain and the Electorate of Bavaria, over a possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under a single Bourbon monarch. Such an unification would have drastically changed the European balance of power.

Recognition of Bourbon Philip V as King of Spain

It resulted in the recognition of the Bourbon Philip V as King of Spain while requiring him both to renounce any claim to the French throne and to cede much of the European Spanish Crown's possessions.

Background

In 1700,... Continue reading "War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714): Causes, Consequences, and Impact" »

1. The Left Republicans and Socialist Government: Reforms October 1931 – November 1933 Azaña was named head of the government by socialists and Republicans and then started a series of reforms. The most important concerned the modernization of the army and the redistribution of land ownership in order to solve the unemployment problem originated by the latifundios. Public disorder was constant during this period and violence showed in episodes like the ones in Casa Viejas where an uprising against landowners turned into a massacre and Castiblanco where a series of protest marches turned into the lynching of a group of Civil Guards. On August 1932, General Sanjurjo failed a military coup in Seville trying to seize power.
2. Radicals and CEDA Government:

Spain Under Franco: Repression, Recovery, and Change

The Francoist dictatorship can be broadly divided into two distinct periods.

Initial Isolation and Repression (1939-1950s)

From 1939 until the 1950s, Spain experienced significant isolation from most Western countries due to its dictatorial regime. This era was marked by intense repression, with many political prisoners still incarcerated.

Shifting Alliances and Economic Opening (1950s-1970s)

In the 1950s, the United States sought closer ties with Spain, recognizing its anti-communist stance and strategic position for controlling the Mediterranean Sea.

Economic Growth and Social Transformation

By the 1960s, Spain began to emerge as a tourist attraction, though it wasn't until the 1970s that tourism... Continue reading "Spain Under Franco: Repression, Recovery, and Change (1939-1975)" »

Early Life and Path to the Presidency

On November 22, 1963, when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as the 36th President of the United States. He had a vision to build "A Great Society" for the American people. Born on August 27, 1908, in central Texas, not far from Johnson City, which his family had helped settle, Johnson felt the pinch of rural poverty growing up. He worked his way through Southwest Texas State Teachers College, gaining firsthand experience of the challenges faced by many Americans.

Legislative Achievements: Civil Rights and Tax Cuts

Upon assuming the presidency, Johnson prioritized enacting the measures President Kennedy had been urging at the time of his death: a new... Continue reading "Lyndon B. Johnson's Presidency and the Great Society" »

World War II: Causes, Key Events, and Aftermath

Key Alliances

Axis Powers: Germany, Italy, Japan

Allied Powers: Great Britain, the USSR, the USA, France

Causes of World War II

• Impact of World War I: Peace treaties weakened the countries on the losing side.
• Rise of Fascism and Nationalism: People feared that there would be a communist revolution in their own countries.
• The weakness of democracies.
• The Great Depression: Economic crises in many countries led people to consider extreme ideologies as the only solution.

Key Events and Concepts

• Japanese Occupation of Manchuria: 1931
• Pan-Germanism: The unification of all territories inhabited by German speakers.
• Hitler Sends Armies into the Rhineland: In March 1936, Hitler sent armies into the German Rhineland