World War I: Causes, Phases, Treaty of Versailles, and Aftermath
World War I
Causes
On June 28, 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was assassinated in Sarajevo. This event triggered a chain reaction of war declarations. Austria and Germany declared war on Serbia. Due to existing alliances, a sequence of war declarations occurred between major European countries.
Two main alliances formed:
- Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire (Turkey), and Bulgaria.
- Allied Powers: France, Great Britain, Russia, Serbia, and Belgium.
Manifesto of the Persians: A Call for Absolutism in 1814
Manifesto of the Persians: Demanding the Old Regime
- The proposed text is a primary source, the so-called Manifesto of the Persians. It is a text in which a group of deputies from the Legislative Cortes that had been elected in 1813 addresses King Fernando VII, who has just returned to Spain after six years of captivity in France under Napoleon Bonaparte.
- It is a “manifesto” because the deputies formulate a political program while they propose to the King what to do regarding the Cortes and the
Spanish Constitutions and the First Republic (1834-1874)
The First Spanish Republic (1873-1874)
The First Republic (1873-1874) was a politically unstable regime. It formed a government led by Republican Figueras, but it was mostly radical. Elections were held in May, and the ruling party won a majority, but abstentions were high. The new government, led by Pi i Maragall, began drafting the constitution, which resulted in a draft constitution (1873). The new Federal Republic was overwhelmed by the left. Diehard Republicans pushed a federalist movement.
Read MoreVenezuelan History: Falcón & Guzmán Blanco Eras
Constitutional Government of Juan Crisóstomo Falcón (1864-1868)
Among the most notorious events of his government are:
- The new loan from Europe to meet urgent demands.
- The order of payment of salaries to all soldiers of the Federation.
- Solemn funeral rites decreed to the memory of General Ezequiel Zamora and the execution of the new Constitutional Charter of the country.
Financial Situation
The financial situation reached a climax; there was a time when there was no money to pay official salaries. Even
Read MoreEconomic Boom and Political Turmoil: 1920s Europe
The Economic Boom of the 1920s
Since 1924, the economy entered a phase of expansion that lasted until 1929. This drove forward new industrial sectors, especially the automobile industry. Increased energy consumption, primarily oil and electricity, became widespread. Assembly line working increased productivity and lowered prices, leading to growing business concentration. Prosperity was first noted in the U.S., thanks to the return of credits that helped extend to Europe. This boosted individual
Read MoreEvolution of British Parliamentarism: From Monarchy to Democracy
The Foundation of Modern British Parliamentarism
The Revolution found its formal expression in three pieces of legislation:
- The Bill of Rights (1689) summarizes the essential principles of the British constitution until the late nineteenth century. It defines the roles, rights, and privileges of Parliament and the rights of citizens, articulating the rule of law.
- The Triennial Act of 1694: The schedule for parliamentary meetings became triennial.
- The Act of Settlement (1701): Regulating the monarchy