European Powers in Africa

If you look at the map, you see that there are two dominant powers: there is a horizontal line to the North, where the French were, and a vertical line in blue, which corresponds to British dominion. That is what explains a caricature of Cecil Rhodes—who gave name to Rhodesia—in which he appears above the African map.

Germany's Ambitions

The third colonial power was Germany, which was fast becoming an industrialized area. By then, Germany was trying to establish a railway line joining Berlin and Baghdad, which contains the biggest oil reservoirs. Therefore, that is why they had interest to build this railway line.

British Dominions and Boer Republics

If we concentrate on the South, we see primarily British dominions... Continue reading "Boer Wars: Diamonds, Gold, and Imperial Conflict" »

The Vietnam War

Many people in South Vietnam resented the government, which led to the Viet Cong.

The Viet Cong fought to overthrow the South Vietnamese government with help from North Vietnam.

The new US president, Lyndon Johnson, was determined to keep South Vietnam communist-free.

However, the war was very difficult for the Americans. It ended in 1975 when Saigon fell to the Viet Cong, and the USA left.

The Treaty of Versailles

In early 1919, the Allied leaders met in Versailles, France, to agree on a peace treaty. Britain, the USA, and France all attended. Germany was not invited.

The USA and Britain were not so sure about the terms.

Aims of the Treaty:

• To reorganize Europe
• To establish the culprits of the war
• To find a system to maintain the peace

Terms

A Nation of Immigrants

Native Americans

The first people to arrive in America came from Asia across the Bering Strait during a period of lower sea levels.

Reservations

Land set aside for Native Americans has historically faced challenges such as poverty and unemployment. Significant Native American populations reside in California, Oklahoma, and New Mexico.

British Influence

The American Revolution (1776) resulted in a blend of British and American cultures. Immigrants from the UK and Ireland played a significant role in shaping the early United States.

African Americans

Between 1620 and 1820, Africans were brought to America to work as slaves. In the South, they labored on plantations cultivating crops like cotton and tobacco. In the North, they worked... Continue reading "American Society: People, Politics, and Religion" »

Elizabeth II: Carlist Wars and Liberal Reforms (1833-1854)

The First Carlist War (1833-1840)

The First Carlist War occurred during the regency of Maria Cristina, although tensions between liberals and Carlists emerged earlier. The war is divided into three stages:

• The first stage began with armed outbreaks in Talavera and Valencia and ended with the death of the Carlist chief, Zumalacárregui.
• The second stage emphasized the Royal Expedition led by Carlos María Isidro, which ultimately failed.
• The third stage saw the division of the Carlists and concluded with the signing of the Vergara Agreement by the moderate sector and the defeat of the most radical faction in Cabrera (1840).

Liberal Divisions and the 1837 Constitution

The liberals were also... Continue reading "Elizabeth II Reign: Carlist Wars & Liberal Reforms" »

Crisis and Collapse of the Restoration System

The Triple Crisis of 1917

The failure of Maura and Canalejas ushered in an era of instability, culminating in the triple crisis of 1917 and the 1923 coup. Governments were weak and overwhelmed by problems.

World War I and Social Unrest: Spain's neutrality during World War I allowed for profitable trade with warring nations, tripling Bank of Spain reserves. However, this created social consequences:

• Unequal wealth distribution and increased social differences.
• Alarming inflation and doubled cost of necessities.
• Slow wage growth, reducing workers' purchasing power.

News of the 1917 Russian Revolution fueled unrest, leading to a general strike aimed at replacing the monarchy with a republic.

The government... Continue reading "Crisis and Collapse of the Restoration System in Spain (1917-1923)" »

The State: Definition and Key Elements

The State is a political unit that holds supreme authority within a defined territory and over its inhabitants. It represents the organized structure of a society, characterized by:

• Boundaries
• Population
• Laws
• Symbols

Territory and Population

A state possesses a defined territory with boundaries separating it from other states. The population comprises the citizens residing within this territory. A nation refers to a group of people sharing a common identity. The terms 'nation' and 'country' are often used interchangeably.

Government and Laws

States grant rights to citizens, while citizens have legal duties. Sanctions are in place to enforce these laws.

Powers of the State

A state has the authority to govern through... Continue reading "Understanding the State: Territory, Government, and Power" »

Causes of World War I

Political Causes

• Germany abandoned the policy of balance between the great powers (Realpolitik) after Bismarck's resignation.
• Kaiser Wilhelm II aimed to seize political and economic leadership in Europe from Britain, leading to an aggressive and dangerous foreign policy.
• Formation of two rival power blocs:
  • Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy (1882)
  • Triple Entente: France, Britain, and Russia (1907)
• "Peace Navy" (1905-1914): Major powers prepared for war, significantly increasing spending on weapons.

Economic Causes

• Germany became a huge industrial power after 1871.
• Great Britain saw Germany as a formidable commercial rival.

Territorial Causes

• 1st Moroccan Crisis (1905-1906): Germany opposed France's occupation of

British Colonial Ambitions in Africa

The United Kingdom sought the union of its colonies along a line from Egypt to South Africa, known historically as the Cairo-Cape Route. This ambition obviously clashed with the interests of other powers.

Other British provinces included:

• Sierra Leone
• Gold Coast
• Nigeria
• The coast of Zanzibar
• British Somaliland (near the exit of the Red Sea)

Key Colonial Conflicts and Crises

Colonial conflicts erupted, particularly around the year 1898. These conflicts contributed to a sense of collective depression in certain nations.

The most important conflicts include:

Fashoda Incident (1898)

A confrontation between France and the United Kingdom occurred in Fashoda (in present-day Sudan) because the colonial interests of both countries... Continue reading "British Colonial Expansion in Africa and Imperial Causes" »

World War I

Causes of World War I

Territorial Conflicts

France sought to reclaim Alsace-Lorraine from Germany. Austria-Hungary and Russia both aimed to expand their influence in the Balkans. Italy desired Trento and Istria, territories held by Austria-Hungary.

Nationalist Conflicts

Tensions arose from the diverse nationalities within large empires, particularly in the Balkans.

Economic Rivalries

Germany's industrial growth posed a threat to the British and French economies, further fueled by competition in colonial expansion.

Arms Race and Alliances

An arms race and the formation of two alliance systems—the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente—contributed to the escalating tensions.

Key Stages of World War I

The War of Movement (1914)

Germany's... Continue reading "World War I: Causes, Key Stages, and Impact" »

Presidential System

Originating from limited monarchies, where the monarch's power is constrained by objective rules, the presidential system maintains a similar structure.

To preserve the framework of a limited monarchy, the legislative and executive branches operate independently, without any hierarchical dependencies. Each branch fulfills its constitutional role without needing to consider the other.

Features

• Monistic Executive Power: The president, directly elected by the people, embodies both the head of state and government. They appoint and dismiss cabinet members, known as secretaries.
• Absence of a Confidence Relationship: The president's direct popular legitimacy eliminates the need for a vote of confidence or censure motion from parliament.