Political Consolidation: Alfonso XII and the Spanish Restoration (1874-1902)
Political Developments: Alfonso XII (1874-1885) and María Cristina’s Regency (1885-1902)
The Reign of Alfonso XII (1875-1885)
This period represents the consolidation of Cánovas’s political system. The government primarily served the Conservative Party, making Cánovas del Castillo the main protagonist of the era. He successfully restored the Bourbon monarchy in Spain and stabilized the political system through several key achievements:
- Promulgation of the 1876 Constitution.
- Ending the prominence
World War II: Key Terms, People & Major Events
World War II: Key Terms, People & Major Events
This document lists vocabulary, people, and events related to World War II. Spelling, grammar, and capitalization have been corrected while preserving original content.
Vocabulary
- Coral atolls — islands difficult to land on with ships.
- Kamikaze — “divine winds”; the act of crashing planes into U.S. battleships.
- Napalm — bombs made of jellied gasoline that not only explode but also catch fire.
- Fascism — an aggressive nationalist movement; the government
World War I: Causes, Course and Lasting Consequences
Causes of World War I
Long-term causes
- Militarism: Long-term build-up of armies and an arms race prepared nations for war.
- Alliances: Otto von Bismarck (19th century) helped shape alliance systems.
- Triple Entente: France, Russia, Great Britain
- Triple Alliance: Germany, Italy, Austro-Hungarian Empire
- Imperialism: Competition for territories and new markets.
- Nationalism: Many nations and ethnic groups sought independence.
- Psychological causes: Governments idealized the war and promoted sentiments like love
Modern Britain: Empire, Industry, and Social Upheaval
The Birth of Modern Britain: Empire, Industry, and Identity
The British Empire was not a monolithic entity but a complex, often contradictory system that evolved through opportunism, economic ambition, and military dominance.
Adam Smith’s Skepticism:
dismissed the idea of a coherent empire, calling it a “Project of an empire”—a haphazard collection of colonies and trade networks driven by profit rather than a unified vision.
Palmerston’s Imperial Pride:
By contrast, 19th-century statesman
Read MoreNapoleon’s Defeat and the Congress of Vienna
Napoleon’s Downfall and European Reaction
Being isolated caused England to intervene on too many fronts, from Spain to Russia; it is impossible to be victorious in all of them.
Spain: The Guerrilla War
Spain: Napoleon’s military difficulties began in Spain. The Spanish people refused to accept Napoleon’s brother as king and began a guerrilla war, which earned France a continuous drain of men and resources. Also in Spain, France received military aid from England.
The Russian Campaign Disaster
Napoleon
Read MoreSpanish Crisis, Dictatorship, Republic, and the Road to WWII
Crisis of the Spanish Restoration and Dictatorship (1900-1931)
In the early decades of the twentieth century, the political system of the Restoration entered its final crisis. This crisis was manifested in:
- Popular Uprisings: Notably the Tragic Week in Barcelona.
- General Strikes: The government managed to suppress strikes and negotiate with the military.
- Government Instability: 13 governments were formed in rapid succession.
- Rural Demonstrations: The Bolshevik Triennium (1918–1922) saw land occupations.