19th Century History: Spain, Imperialism, and World War I Key Concepts

Posted on Nov 1, 2025 in History

Spanish History and Political Dynamics (19th Century)

Spanish Constitutions of the 19th Century

1812 (La Pepa): Moderate
1837: Progressive
1845: Conservative
1869: Progressive
1876: Conservative

Key Events Sequence (Peninsular War Era)

Godoy’s Resignation
Creation of the Supreme Central Junta
Adoption of La Pepa (1812 Constitution)
Treaty of Fontainebleau
Accession of Joseph I

Francisco de Goya: Influence and Legacy

Goya’s expressions and feelings paved the way for many subsequent art movements. His paintings reflected contemporary style and significantly influenced painters of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Carlist vs. Liberal Arguments in 19th Century Spain

Carlist Stance

Advocated for absolute power of the King and traditional institutions (tax system).
The text notes that the privileged had to pay taxes (a point of contention or reform).

Liberal Stance

Demanded fiscal reform.
Sought the dissolution of manorialism.
Pushed for the abolition of guilds.

The Role of the Army in 19th Century Spanish Politics

The army’s prominent role led to significant prestige for military officials, many of whom became deeply involved in politics. The military was frequently forced to act as a mediator between opposing political groups, often intervening through methods like electoral fraud, pronunciamientos (military coups), and suppressing revolutionary civilian groups and revolts.

Imperialism and Global Expansion

The Sinking of the USS Maine (1898)

The most coherent hypothesis regarding the sinking of the USS Maine suggests the explosion was caused by an internal fire or failure, rather than an external Spanish mine or act of sabotage. This conclusion is supported by the fact that the vessel was carrying large amounts of gunpowder.

Major Colonial Empires and Territories

Great Britain: Spanning from Cairo to Cape Town (Africa), India, Egypt, Sudan, Nigeria, Kenya, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
France: North West Equatorial and Southeast Africa.
Germany: Cameroon, German East Africa, German Southwest Africa (The text also lists Malasya, referring to Dutch holdings).
Belgium: Belgian Congo.
Portugal: Angola and Mozambique.
Spain: Morocco (parts of).
Italy: Libya and Somalia.

Colonial Expansion Outside Europe

United States: Expansion in the Pacific and Caribbean, including the Philippines, Cuba, Panama, and Puerto Rico.
Japan: Acquisition of the Kuril Islands, Korea, and Formosa (Taiwan).

Effects of Colonial Expansion on Indigenous Populations

Indigenous people lost their land, resources, and control over their lives.
Severing of connections to ancestors in burial places.
Breakdown of traditional structures, institutions, and families.

Factors Driving 19th Century Imperialism

Economic Factors: The Industrial Revolution stimulated the hunt for colonies as sources of raw materials and new markets (economic expansion).
Political Factors: Every country sought national hegemony and increased political power.
Cultural, Military, and Religious Factors: These included exploration, the diffusion of ideological beliefs, and the spreading of religious beliefs and practices to others.

Key Historical Dates and Periods

Mutiny of Aranjuez: March 17–18, 1808
Liberal Triennium (Spain): 1820–1823
Cuban Independence War: February 24, 1895 – December 10, 1898
First Spanish Republic: February 11, 1873 – December 29, 1874

19th Century Timeline Highlights

1859: First oil well drilled.
1871: Livingstone and Stanley meet.
1892: Fashoda Incident.
1899–1901: Boxer Rebellion.

World War I: Causes, Consequences, and Concepts

Chronology of World War I Entry/Exit

Assassination in Sarajevo
Germany Invades Belgium
Ottoman Empire Enters the War
U.S. Joins the War
Russia Withdraws

Consequences of World War I

Demographic Decline: Caused approximately 10 million military deaths and a large number of civilian casualties due to malnutrition and disease.
Shift in Global Power: Loss of European hegemony; the U.S. economy became the most powerful globally.
Economic Impact: Governments incurred massive debt, and European industry reduced in size.
Political Restructuring: Formation of new nations and the end of great empires.
Peace Efforts: Treaties were created by the leaders of the great powers to establish peace.

Reasons for Germany’s Surrender in WWI

Defeat on the Western Front, notably after the Second Battle of the Marne.
Widespread revolts in the German Army and Navy.
Workers’ demonstrations against the government, leading to the eventual surrender.

The Role of Propaganda in WWI

Propaganda was employed on a global scale by both sides of the conflict to shape international opinion, mobilize people against the enemy, and foster feelings of patriotism.

Key Historical Definitions and Concepts

Pronunciamiento: A military revolution or uprising aimed at overthrowing a government.
Census Suffrage: An electoral system restricting the right to vote only to the part of the population that met specific characteristics (e.g., wealth or property).
Isabelino: A supporter of Queen Isabella II of Spain.
Salic Law: A fundamental law, notably of the French monarchy, excluding females from dynastic succession.
Berlin Conference (1884–1885): A meeting held to discuss the partitioning of Africa, establishing rules for Western countries to divide resources at the expense of the African people.
Opium Wars: Conflicts that forced China to open up to Western trade.
Boer Wars: Wars fought between Great Britain and Dutch settlers (Boers) in South Africa, primarily due to the discovery of large gold deposits.
Suez Canal: An artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt connecting the Mediterranean and Red Seas, which revolutionized transport.
Telegraph Code: One of the character encodings (e.g., Morse Code) used to transmit information by telegraphy.
Henry Ford: American businessman and entrepreneur, founder of the Ford Motor Company, who adapted Taylorism to the automobile industry.
Taylorism: A system of industrial organization involving the division of production tasks in order to increase productivity (Scientific Management).
Impressionism: An art movement that emerged in the last third of the 19th century, emphasizing light and how it alters a scene, where color took precedence over form.
Arms Race: A competition between nations for superiority in the development and accumulation of weapons.
League of Nations: An international diplomatic group developed after WWI as a mechanism to solve disputes between countries.
Wilson’s 14 Points: A manifesto based on U.S. President Woodrow Wilson’s vision for post-war peace.
Trench Warfare: A type of combat in which opposing troops fight from fortified trenches facing each other.
Schlieffen Plan: Germany’s strategic plan for a quick and decisive attack on France from the north, involving the invasion of neutral Belgium, before turning attention to Russia.
War Reparations: A levy imposed on a defeated country, forcing it to pay some of the war costs incurred by the winning countries.
Battle of Verdun: The longest and one of the largest battles of WWI on the Western Front, fought between the French and German armies.
Treaty of Brest-Litovsk: A peace treaty signed between the Central Powers (German Empire, Bulgaria, Austro-Hungarian Empire, Ottoman Empire) and the Soviet Union, recognizing the independence of Ukraine, Georgia, and Finland.

German Empire Rivals (Allied Powers in WWI)

Germany fought against the Allied Powers, including Great Britain (GB), France, Russia, Italy, Romania, Japan, the United States, Portugal, Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, Belgium, and Greece.