Spain’s Revolutionary Six Years and Monarchy Restoration
Spain’s Revolutionary Six Years (1868-1874)
The 1868 Revolution and Provisional Government
Federalists and Republicans sought significant changes, including regime alteration, the abolition of the quintas (forced military conscription), the abolition of slavery, and laws protecting workers.
The Cortes framed the Constitution of 1869, which established principles such as:
- National sovereignty with a constitutional monarchy
- Declaration of individual rights
- Bicameral legislature
- Executive power vested in
Understanding the Cold War Era
The Cold War: Defining an Era
The Cold War was an ideological, political, economic, and military conflict between the capitalist bloc, led by the USA, and the communist bloc, led by the USSR. It spanned from 1945 (the end of WWII) to 1991 (the collapse of the USSR). It was termed ‘Cold’ because the level of direct violence in Europe and North America was lower compared to previous years, but it was very harmful in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The two superpowers largely avoided direct confrontation.
Read MoreKey Eras in World History: Conflicts, Revolutions, and Transformations
The Peloponnesian War: An Early Total Conflict
The Peloponnesian War (431–404 BC) between Athens and Sparta is seen as an early example of total war, affecting all of society. Thucydides, a key historian, used empirical, objective methods and saw war as a test of civilization. Pericles’ Funeral Oration praised Athenian democracy and civic virtue. The concept of total war was formalized by Ludendorff in 1935, but Thucydides already captured its essence. Aristotle argued history is not a science
Read More19th Century Global Transformations: Key Historical Events
The Congress of Vienna: Creation & Objectives
After Napoleon’s defeat and exile to the island of Saint Helena, the victorious countries met at the Congress of Vienna.
At the meeting, the following objectives were proposed:
- Restore absolutism under a new name: legitimism. Kings were considered the only legitimate rulers.
- Create an alliance, called the Holy Alliance, between the absolutist monarchs to protect them from any attempted revolutions.
- Restore the boundaries on the map of Europe, which had
Spanish Political Dynamics: Republicanism, Carlism, and Cuba (1876-1898)
The Evolution of Spanish Republicanism
Divisions and Adaptations Post-First Republic
Following the failure of the First Spanish Republic, Republicans found themselves deeply divided into various factions. This continuous reorganization of forces and events significantly diminished the effectiveness of their electoral support and political programs. The quickest to adapt to the new political conditions was the old republican leader Emilio Castelar, who founded the Posibilista Republican Party. This
Read MoreUnraveling Medieval & Renaissance History: Core Concepts
The Great Schism: Church Division & Impact
The Great Schism refers to the split within the Christian Church that occurred when both a French pope and an Italian pope declared each other to be a false pope. This conflict significantly diminished the power of the Church, as the popes’ disorganization hindered their ability to effectively combat crises like the Bubonic Plague. For instance, many lives were lost because the Church leadership was not unified in its efforts to help the populace. In
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