Democracy, the Great Depression, and the Rise of Keynesian Economics
The 1920s: The Advance of Democracy
Most states born after the First World War were, at least temporarily, democratic republics. However, this period also saw a rise in the problem of minorities. In Eastern and Southern Europe, authoritarian regimes, inspired by Mussolini’s Italy, began to take hold.
The German Weimar Republic experienced several ups and downs.
From Versailles to Locarno
The intransigence of the victors in demanding payments from the defeated led to the occupation of the Ruhr. However,
Read MoreThe Crisis of the Old Regime in Spain & American Independence
The Crisis of the Old Regime in Spain (1808-1833)
The war against the French invasion precipitated the crisis of the Ancien Régime in Spain. King Charles IV declared war on France, a conflict that ended in failure. Subsequently, Manuel Godoy, allied with Napoleon against Great Britain, secured authorization for French troops to traverse Spain to attack Portugal, as outlined in the Treaty of Fontainebleau (1807).
Growing popular discontent culminated in the Mutiny of Aranjuez (1808). Napoleon then
Read MoreBasque Country’s Transition to Democracy: 1976-1980
The Basque Country’s Path to Autonomy (1976-1980)
1976: Strikes and Demands for Autonomy
In 1976, strikes and demands for greater autonomy and freedom were widespread in the Basque Country. Two tragic events marked this year: the killing of five workers during a demonstration in Vitoria and shots fired at the Carlist gathering in Montejurra. Workers, students, and political groups demanded freedom in the streets. Government repression of workers was significant.
1976: The End of Franco’s Regime and
Read MoreConstitution Restoration: Alfonso XII to 1898 Crisis
Stages of the Constitution Restoration System
The Reign of Alfonso XII
The reign of Alfonso XII presented the nation with peace and the military and ideological consolidation of bipartisanship. This period saw:
- An end to operations on the Carlist front (deletion of the Basque forum).
- The end of the uprising in Cuba, with the signing of the Zanjón Peace (1878). This granted amnesty and promised political and administrative reforms, though these were not rushed.
- The resumption of the liberation movement
Imperialism and Colonialism: Key Concepts and Historical Events
Imperialism and Colonialism: Key Concepts
Colony: A country or area under the full political control of another country. Examples include the Kongo and Nigeria.
Colonialism: The practice of a country conquering a territory or place to extract benefits such as goods and slaves.
Key Historical Events
Berlin Conference: A meeting organized by Germany to decide how Africa would be divided among European countries.
Indigenous: People who share collective ancestral ties to the land where they live or from
Read MoreNazism and Fascism: A Comparative Analysis
Nazism and Fascism
Nazism: “Nazi” is a contraction of the German word “Nationalsozialistische,” meaning “National.” It refers to everything related to the regime that ruled Germany from 1933 to 1945, with the rise to power of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP, Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei), the self-proclaimed Third Reich, and Austria after the Anschluss, as well as other territories that were incorporated (Sudetenland, Memel, Danzig, and other lands in Poland,
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