World War I: Causes, Stages, and Aftermath
World War I: The Great War
Territorial Tensions
Not only the Balkans were tense. France, for its part, was confronted with Germany over the territories of Alsace and Lorraine, lost in the Franco-Prussian Conflict.
Economic Factors
Germany had burst into international markets, competing with major financial powers like France and Britain.
Propaganda and Ideology
Countries engaged in public campaigns to discredit rival states and justify military spending, highlighting the perceived danger of war.
The Spark:
Read MoreSpain’s Transition to Democracy: Constitution & Autonomy
After Franco’s death on November 20, 1975, and the ascension of Juan Carlos I to the throne, Franco’s regime continued, with a division between the immoviles (the “bunker”) and those favoring openness (Manuel Fraga, Areilza, Adolfo Suarez). The Opposition, still illegal, was quite divided but included the PCE (led by Santiago Carrillo), the Socialists (split into PSOE led by Felipe González, and PSP led by Tierno Galván), and Basque and Catalan nationalists. These groups were joined by clandestine
Read MoreSpain Under Primo de Rivera: 1923-1930
Primo de Rivera’s Dictatorship (1923-1930)
Introduction
On September 13, 1923, General Miguel Primo de Rivera declared a state of war and demanded the handover of power. After several hours, King Alfonso XIII accepted the establishment of a new government formed exclusively by the military, and the crown became attached to the dictatorship.
During the dictatorship, which lasted seven years, two forms of government were established:
- (1923-1925) The Military Directory
- (1925-1930) The Civil Directory
The
Read MoreAmerican Independence: Impact on Europe
The Independence of the United States and Its Influence in Europe
The origin of the United States had much to do with Spain, which assigned almost all of the American continent to Spain.
The Puritans were opposed to the Anglicans. These men were among the first colonists.
Spain focused on the south and left the northern latitude and its wild environment. The British, in their quest to have colonies, were in the north. The people considered “leftovers” were turned into jails and prisons.
The British,
Read MorePost-WWII Conflicts and Alliances
CONFERENCE OF YALTA (1945): To establish post-WWII principles, Churchill (Britain), Roosevelt (USA), and Stalin (USSR) met and made key decisions: the USSR gained a “sphere of influence” and guaranteed free elections for Eastern European countries under its influence. Germany was also divided into four zones. CONFERENCE OF POSTDAM (1945): Attlee (Britain), Truman (USA), and Stalin (USSR) convened. They created the United Nations (UN), decided Germany would pay reparations and its war criminals would
Read MoreRise of Nazism in Germany: Weimar Republic to 1933
The Introduction of Nazism in Germany
The Weimar Republic (1918-1933)
In 1918, nearing the end of World War I, Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicated, and the Weimar Republic was proclaimed. It was established with a democratic constitution. Germany had to accept military defeat and the harsh peace terms imposed by the victors. Many Germans considered the Treaty of Versailles humiliating because it accused Germany of causing the war, seized territories, reduced its army, and imposed substantial economic reparations.
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