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

The Vietnam War: Origins of the Conflict

Vietnam, formerly known as Indochina, was under French rule until World War II. The first significant challenge to French power occurred in 1930 with a rebellion. However, the major turning point came in 1940 when France was defeated in World War II, leading to Japanese occupation of Vietnam's key resources.

Rise of Ho Chi Minh and the Viet Minh

During the war, an anti-communist movement emerged under the leadership of Ho Chi Minh. In 1920, he studied communism in the USSR and later founded the Indochinese Communist Party in 1930, inspiring the Vietnamese people to fight for independence. In 1945, the Viet Minh, led by Ho Chi Minh, entered Hanoi and declared Vietnamese independence.

French Return and the

Democracy in the Middle East and North Africa

The Role of Islam and Culture

Can democracy coexist with Islam in the MENA region? While some argue that Sharia law should be considered, the imposition of Islam on minorities raises concerns. A study by Jamal and Telsser found that both secular and Muslim individuals identify as democratic, suggesting that cultural factors alone may not hinder democracy.

Economic Development and Inequality

Applying Lipset's theory, which links economic prosperity with democratic sustainability, we see that some Arab countries are wealthy, even rivaling established democracies. However, per capita income doesn't reflect wealth distribution. The UN Human Development Index, which considers factors like urbanization and... Continue reading "Democracy in the Middle East and North Africa: An Analysis" »

Transcendentalism: Philosophy and Literature

As much a religion as a philosophy, Transcendentalism provided a system of beliefs that adequately reflected the prevailing thoughts and opinions of Americans. The Transcendentalist movement created a romantic philosophy that would become a rallying point for America’s greatest thinkers, artists, and poets, who were already intent upon finding a way to express the essential spirit of the American experience.

Historical Trends of the Early 19th Century

The framers of the U.S. Constitution in 1787 had crafted a new experiment on the world’s political stage. The political faith that ‘all men are created equal’, as expressed in the Declaration of Independence, was only an ideal. Thomas Jefferson... Continue reading "The Core Principles of Transcendentalism: Emerson and Thoreau" »

18th Century Economic Policies

Physiocracy: This economic theory, championed by François Quesnay, posited that a nation's wealth originated from the land, encompassing agriculture and mining. Land provided sustenance and raw materials, which artisans transformed into manufactured goods. Merchants then sold these goods, generating wealth. Economic Liberalism: This doctrine, developed by Adam Smith in his seminal work, The Wealth of Nations, asserted that individual effort aimed at maximizing profit is the source of wealth. Smith argued that a nation's wealth, accumulated through individual endeavors, benefits society as a whole. He advocated for minimal state intervention, proposing that supply and demand naturally regulate production, and prices... Continue reading "18th Century Economic and Political Transformations" »

Meiji Reforms

The Meiji Restoration, also known as the Meiji Reform, was an event that restored practical imperial rule to the Empire of Japan between 1866 and 1869 under Emperor Meiji. Although there were ruling Emperors before the Meiji Restoration, the events restored practical abilities and consolidated the political system under the Emperor of Japan. The goals of the restored government were expressed by the new Emperor in the Charter Oath. The Restoration led to enormous changes in Japan's political and social structure and spanned both the late Edo period and the beginning of the Meiji period.

• End of neo-confucianism and feudalism
• Modernisation (railways, telegraph, universal education)
• Widespread westernisation
• Remodelling of public and

The Meaning of Enlightenment

The Enlightenment refers to the use of reason in shaping people’s ideas about society and politics.

Key Enlightenment Ideas

1. The ability to reason is unique to humans.
2. Reason can be used to solve problems and improve people’s lives.
3. Reason can free people from ignorance.
4. The natural world is governed by laws that can be discovered through reason.
5. Natural laws also govern human behavior.
6. Governments should reflect natural laws and encourage education and debate.

John Locke's View on Government

Locke believed government should be a contract between a ruler and the people. This contract binds both sides, limiting the ruler’s power. Locke also asserted that all people possess certain natural rights, such as life, liberty,... Continue reading "Enlightenment Ideas: Locke, Rousseau, and Democratic Documents" »

THOREAU’S CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE

Perhaps the most famous text in the literature of romantic reform is Henry David Thoreau’s essay, Resistance to Civil Government (1849), better known as Civil Disobedience. The occasion of the essay was Thoreau’s refusal to pay a poll tax in the town of Concord in protest of the United States war with Mexico (1846– 1848). Thoreau regarded the war as a conspiracy to seize Mexican lands and enable the expansion of southern slavery. Thoreau was jailed for his refusal to pay the tax. His essay is a defense of his actions as well as a treatise on the moral and political responsibilities of the citizen. In Civil Disobedience, Thoreau argues that, in an ideal world, governments would be rendered unnecessary;

MARGARET

Life in the Thirteen American Colonies

By the year 1733, the English owned 13 separate colonies along the Atlantic coast of North America. The colonies stretched from New Hampshire in the north to Georgia in the south. Most people divided them into three main groups. Most residents were small farmers or craftsmen, working the stony soil and governing themselves in small towns and villages. The nearest colonies to the south of New England were called the Middle Colonies.

The Boston Tea Party and Early Conflicts

In Boston Harbor, a group of Massachusetts colonists disguised as Mohawk Indians boarded three British tea ships belonging to the British East India Company. The Americans were protesting a tax on tea ("no taxation without representation"

Fascism in Italy

Causes of Fascism

Dissatisfaction with the peace agreements established after the First World War and the post-war situation. Unemployment, inflation, and social unrest expressed through revolutionary movements that frightened conservative sectors of society.

Fascism was created by Benito Mussolini, who founded the National Fascist Party in 1921 using paramilitary groups (which were illegal) such as the Blackshirts. He gained support from large landowners, the small bourgeoisie, and Emmanuel III. In 1922, the intervention of the Italian Combat Squad against the trade unions and workers' strikes allowed Mussolini to claim power. To pressure the government, he organised a March on Rome with the Blackshirts.

Once he was in power,... Continue reading "Fascism and Nazism: Origins, Rise, and Impact" »