Notes, abstracts, papers, exams and problems of History

Stalinization: Death Brings Relaxation

A communist named Stalin died. Khrushchev assumed power. The USSR became a paternalistic and bureaucratic system. It assumed a new socialist bloc: condemning Stalinism (considered an aberration and denouncing its crimes), fewer purges, and formulated principles of detente and peaceful coexistence between capitalism and communism. In the satellite countries, there were no reactions in Czechoslovakia and East Germany (strikes and riots), but there were in Poland and Hungary (communist reforms but still loyal to Moscow). Khrushchev's failures in experiments and economic planning were criticized and never bore fruit.

Stagnation

The CPSU deposed Khrushchev. A stage of stagnation began. Technology and production... Continue reading "Soviet Union's Transformation and the Rise of the European Union" »

La Gran Colombia

Before the birth of Venezuela as a republic, it's important to understand that it previously belonged to the Republic of Gran Colombia. There was a president and vice president for Gran Colombia. The territory was divided into the departments of Cundinamarca, Venezuela, and Quito. The capital was Bogotá. The president was Simón Bolívar, the Vice President was Francisco de Paula Santander, and José Antonio Páez was the head of the military department of Venezuela.

La Cosiata

La Cosiata was a departmental opposition that emerged in 1821. Simón Bolívar and José Antonio Páez initiated it with the specific purpose of separating Venezuela from Gran Colombia.

Bolívar's Attempts at Settlement: 1826-1827

Signs of an impending civil... Continue reading "Venezuela's Independence: From Gran Colombia to Republic" »

Following the First World War (1914-1918), the peace treaties signed between nations proved weak and unfair to some countries, leading to widespread discontent and a desire for revenge. The Treaty of Versailles significantly reduced the territories of Germany and Austria, including areas populated by Germans. Great ambition and rivalry arose between countries, especially those that had lost territory in the Great War.

The need to demonstrate military power to achieve a superior military and political position over other countries fueled tensions. Control and domination of certain areas were sought to exploit their natural wealth. Hitler envisioned a terrestrial version of England's maritime power.

Ethnic issues also played a significant role,... Continue reading "World War II: Causes, Key Events, and Global Impact" »

The Configuration of Catalan Politics in the 19th Century

During the six democratic years, there was an awakening of national consciousness in the form of Catalan anti-centralist popular movements, stimulated by the social problems of industrialization. Until the restoration of the Bourbons, a Catalan nationalist political movement did not articulate itself.

The First Demands: Federalists and Carlists

In the 1830s and 1840s, the first anti-centralist demonstrations occurred. Protests were more related to socio-political wings. Most occurred in urban areas, linked to the claims of workers who advocated for democratic federal republicanism. We can mention the rebellions against Espartero in 1842-1843. The incidence of Carlism in the rural world... Continue reading "Catalan Political Configuration: 19th Century Demands" »

The Second Republic saw a surge in political party and trade union activity. Parliamentary debates significantly influenced the press and public opinion.

Left-Wing Formations

The Republican Left (1934) emerged from the union of the Republican Action Party of Manuel Azaña and the Radical Socialist Republican Party of Marcelino Domingo. It garnered support from the popular and middle classes, as well as intellectuals.

The Partido Socialista Obrero Español (PSOE) was influential among workers, encompassing social democratic and revolutionary factions, led by Largo Caballero, secretary general of the UGT union.

Further to the left was the Communist Party of Spain (PCE).

The CNT, an anarchist association, had two main factions: the trentistes, who... Continue reading "Political Parties and Unions of the Second Spanish Republic" »

Enlightened Despotism

Enlightened Despotism is the name given to the form of government of some political regimes in the late 18th century. It combines the absolute power of monarchs with a desire for reform of the economy and society. Enlightened Despotism is summarized in the phrase "Everything for the people, but without the people".

Guerrilla Warfare

Guerrilla is a method of fighting against the French, born in 1809. It prevented the conquest and control of the territory, limiting itself to systematically harassing the enemy by attacking convoys and stragglers. It was structured around small groups or gangs and came to have nearly 55,000 members in 1811.

Juntas

Juntas are groups of people who come together with the objective of taking over the... Continue reading "18th and 19th Century Spanish Political Terms Defined" »

Reign of Philip III (1598-1621)

At the beginning of his reign, Philip III inherited a complex geopolitical landscape: peace with France, ongoing war with England, and a theoretical peace with the Dutch Republic, as the Southern Netherlands had been ceded to his sister, Isabel Clara Eugenia. Despite initial peace, Spain soon became re-engaged in the Eighty Years' War.

The death of Queen Elizabeth I led to peace with England under the new king, James I, who also made peace with Spain. Some painful defeats, such as the Battle of the Dunes, fostered an understanding with the Dutch Republic. This resulted in the Twelve Years' Truce, signed in 1609, granting Spain nine years of peace.

In 1618, the Thirty Years' War began. Spain sent troops to aid their... Continue reading "Spanish Foreign Policy in the 17th Century: Habsburg Era" »

The Decomposition of the Spanish Political System

The decomposition of the Spanish political system was an ongoing process. The monarchy was increasingly discredited, as King Alfonso XIII showed little respect for the operation of the constitution. He frequently exercised political interference on the parties. The decomposition process can be explained by these key factors:

• The Moroccan War
• Institutional instability (distortion of the electoral system)
• The social question, which refers to the struggle of workers to improve their living and working conditions. The trade unions UGT (socialist) and CNT (anarchist) reached a combined membership of two million. The rise of social struggles went hand in hand with increasing political opposition, especially

Primo de Rivera's Manifesto: A Historical Analysis

The Primo Manifesto is a historical-political text drafted by General Miguel Primo de Rivera, published in the newspaper ABC. This monarchist text emerged in the early twentieth century, amidst strong political commotion caused by the Disaster of '98, which forced the dynastic parties to launch a reformist agenda.

Context and Background

While the political system was being reformed, Spanish society entered a progressive stage of economic development and social modernization. The impact of the First World War, especially its economic growth, along with dynastic divisions between the courts and governments, the exacerbation of social tensions, and the difficulties of warfare in Morocco, served as... Continue reading "Primo de Rivera's Manifesto: Origins and Impact of the Dictatorship" »

Three Triumphs of Liberalism

During the minority of Isabel II, a regency was established, with Maria Cristina as the first regent. This period coincided with the Carlist War, and the liberals allied with the regency were divided into two groups: the moderates, who supported strengthening the King's position and implementing limited reforms, and the progressives, who advocated for a more extensive policy of reforms. Maria Cristina initially conceded power to the moderates, but due to protests and military uprisings, she was forced to hand over the government to the progressives.

In the following years, the progressive Mendizabal abolished remnants of the old regime, such as the confiscation of church property, and enacted the Constitution of... Continue reading "The Tumultuous Reign of Isabel II: A Concise History" »