Spain’s Political Crisis: Regeneration, Morocco, and Instability
Regeneration and Political Revisionism
The period starting with the ascent to the throne of Alfonso XIII and concluding with the establishment of the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera was characterized by an ongoing political crisis. Several factors explain this situation:
- Political interventionism of Alfonso XIII
- Division matches “turn”
- Weakening of the chieftaincy
- Development of political and social opposition to the regime since the Restoration in 1917
Thus, coalition governments were subject to alliances
Read MoreSpain’s Transition to Democracy: 1977-1982 & Constitution
Spain’s Transition to Democracy: Reform and Resistance (1977-1982)
The 1978 Constitution and Spanish Autonomy
The period known as the “political transition” refers to the process of dismantling the Franco dictatorship, culminating in the establishment of a democratic regime as expressed in the 1978 Constitution. The starting point was the inauguration of Juan Carlos I after Franco’s death in November 1975.
One faction within the Franco regime, favoring openness, believed reform was necessary to meet
Read MoreBolsheviks, Fascism, and Nazi Racial Policy: A Concise Analysis
The Conquest of Power by the Bolsheviks
The Bolsheviks became the most popular alternative to the interim government. The Petrograd Soviet, Moscow, and other cities in the north, central, and southeast also supported the Bolsheviks.
Living conditions worsened remarkably under the Russian Emperor. The factory committees took control of many companies. The peasants demanded the surrender of land. The soldiers demanded the democratization of command and the end of the war.
Lenin took advantage of the
Read MoreOil Crises, Communism’s Fall, and Cold War Dynamics
Causes of Oil Price Fluctuations
Causes: Lower oil production leading to falling prices.
Production Chain: Increased productivity, lower prices, and increased consumption.
Development
As oil is cheap, mass production occurs. To increase productivity while reducing costs, products become cheaper, which in turn increases consumption. If consumption increases, more is invested, wages increase, and consumerism rises.
Oil Crisis of 1973
- Causes: Yom Kippur War. The U.S. defended Israel against Egypt and Syria.
American Revolution: A Concise Overview of Events and People
Key Events and Figures of the American Revolution
Republicanism: Looking to the models of the ancient Greek and Roman republics.
Mercantilism: Believed that wealth was power and a country’s economic wealth could be measured by the amount of gold or silver.
Radical Whigs: American political thought derived from a group of British commentators.
George Grenville: A Prime Minister who ordered the British navy in 1763 to begin strictly enforcing the Navigation Laws.
Sugar Act 1764: The first law ever passed
Read MoreColonial Empires: Expansion, Administration, and Consequences
Colonial Empires: France & UK Dominance
The largest colonial empires were those of France and the United Kingdom, who competed with each other for control of territories in Africa and Asia.
Colonial Empires in 1914
- United Kingdom: Held maritime hegemony, with its most important possessions being India and Australia.
- France: Possessions were not as extensive as the UK, but included Madagascar.
- USA: Focused on Latin America, Hawaii, and the Philippines.
- Japan: Controlled Korea and Manchuria, following