Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and exercises for History for Secondary education

The Spanish-American War of 1898

Causes of the Conflict

• Cuban ranchers protested against the Spanish government's trade restrictions, which prohibited trade with the United States while mandating the purchase of Spanish goods.
• The United States aimed to expand its influence and control in the Caribbean.
• Jose Marti initiated an armed uprising against Spanish rule, seeking Cuban independence.
• General Valeriano Weyler employed brutal tactics against the Cuban population, including crop destruction, forced relocation, and summary executions of civilians in concentration camps.
• The explosion of the USS Maine served as a catalyst for the United States to declare war on Spain.

The War and its Aftermath

The war was brief, resulting in the destruction of the...

The World Between 1914 and 1939

• World War I (1914-1918) caused great human and economic losses, as well as strong resentment among the conquered countries.
• The triumph of the Russian Revolution of 1917 created a political, economic, and social model radically different from the capitalist force of that time and encouraged the labor movement in other countries.
• The economic crisis of 1929, which affected the capitalist world, caused a rise in unemployment and social unrest by encouraging the spread of communism among the proletariat and sparking fear of a social conservative revolution within the bourgeoisie.
• Totalitarian political regimes came to power in some countries that considered capitalism incapable of solving economic and social issues.

The Second World War: Causes, Stages, and Impact

Causes of the Second World War

Root Causes

• International instability, fueled by a desire for revenge.
• German economic depression following the 1929 crisis.
• Rise of totalitarian ideologies.

Immediate Causes

• Aggressive foreign policy of totalitarian states.
• Formation of the Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis.

The Warring Blocs

• The conflict lasted six years and involved contenders in two blocs:
• Allies: Led by Britain and France, later joined by the USSR and the United States.
• Axis Powers: Led by Germany and Italy, later joined by Japan.
• These two sides widely incorporated other nations, further escalating the Second World War.

Characteristics of the War

• Vast Scope: Affected approximately 60 countries across a large land area.

Causes of Colonialism

1. From an economic standpoint, European countries needed new markets for selling surplus production.
2. From a demographic standpoint, population growth in Europe during the 19th century led to overcrowding, difficulties in finding work, and social tensions.
3. From a political point of view, Europe's borders had stabilized in the late 19th century, necessitating territorial expansion in extra-European regions.
4. From an ideological point of view, conservative nationalism advocated the superiority of some nations and their right to impose themselves on other nations.

Forms of Colonialism

Colonies of Exploitation

These were territories directly controlled by the metropolis, primarily for economic exploitation.

Colonies of Settlement

These...

The Political Transition After Franco

The subject X

After the death of Franco, Juan Carlos I was proclaimed king in a political context of great uncertainty. There began a complex process of transition from dictatorship to a democratic system.

This transition process has become over the years into a model for many countries due to the low level of violence that accompanied it.

The Political Forces on the Scene

The Francoist Faction

When Franco died, the differences between the "bunker", organized around figures like Blas Pinar, and "openings" were sharpened. Among the latter were:

• Veteran politicians of the dictatorship who were convinced of the need for change (e.g., Areilza, Fraga).
• Young people who had lived through the civil war and who were to

Tsarist Autocracy in Russia

At the turn of the twentieth century, the rule of the Tsars was an absolute monarchy. It applied backward social structures. Tsarism was an autocracy; the Tsar was invested with absolute power, ruling by decree. He was not subject to any constitution nor did he have to respond to a legislature. The army ensured control of the empire. The Orthodox Church acted as one of the ideological pillars of the regime.

Agriculture was the main economic activity, and the land was in the hands of a few landowners who belonged to a privileged aristocracy. The bulk of the population were peasants living in miserable conditions. The proletariat worked in factories for low wages.

Among the workers, Marxism had spread, and in 1898, the...

Causes of World War II

• Underlying Causes: International instability, driven by German resentment following the humiliation of the Treaty of Versailles, the economic depression triggered by the 1929 crisis, and the rise of totalitarian ideologies.
• Immediate Cause: The aggressive foreign policy pursued by totalitarian states.

Characteristics of the War

• Global Scale: The conflict reached vast territorial proportions, affecting approximately 60 countries and 800 million people.
• Unprecedented Brutality: The war was marked by extreme violence, including deportations, torture, mass murder, and genocide.
• Total War: Combatants mobilized over 100 million people, utilized advanced weaponry, and restructured their entire economies to support the war effort.

The

The Post-War Peace Settlements (1919-1920)

The peace settlements aimed to reorganize Europe and the world following World War I.

Five major Paris Peace Treaties were signed with the defeated Central Powers:

• Austria (Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye)
• Hungary (Treaty of Trianon)
• Turkey (Treaty of Sèvres, later Lausanne)
• Bulgaria (Treaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine)
• Germany (Treaty of Versailles)

Although 32 countries were invited to the conference, decisions were primarily made by the "Big Four": the United States (US), France (Fr), Great Britain (GB), and Italy.

The Treaty of Versailles and German Humiliation

The Treaty of Versailles, signed with Germany, imposed severe conditions:

• Germany was assigned sole blame for the conflict (the "War Guilt Clause"), establishing

Colonialism and Nationalism

Colonialism and nationalism fueled rivalries between colonial powers for territories. In 1905, nationalist agitation led to a confrontation between France and Germany over Alsace-Lorraine. A rivalry also existed between France and Britain for control of trade routes and sea lanes.

Alliances and Arms Race

The arms race saw states invest heavily in armaments, including the construction of warships and troop training. Alliances aimed to prepare for potential confrontations. The Triple Alliance of 1882 comprised Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy. The Triple Entente, formed in 1907, included France, Russia, and Britain.

The Outbreak of War

The immediate cause of the war was the assassination in Sarajevo of Archduke Franz...

Restoration of Ferdinand VII

One hundred thousand soldiers of St. Louis entered Spain, defeated the liberals, and restored Ferdinand VII as an absolute monarch.

The Absolute Bankruptcy (1823-1833)

There was a difficult economic situation due to the war against the French. The economy had greatly weakened, and fiscal reform was essential for the Treasury. It was necessary to obligate the privileged to contribute with their taxes. A dynastic conflict occurred because Ferdinand VII only had daughters, and the Salic law prevented women from reigning in Spain. To ensure the succession of his eldest daughter Isabel, he issued the Pragmatic Sanction, which overturned the old law.

The Carlist War

After the death of Ferdinand, his heir, daughter Elizabeth,...