American and French Revolutions: A Comparative Study
The American Revolution
The creation of the United States of America broke radically with monarchical traditions. The American Revolution began with the revolt of thirteen colonies opposing economic measures like taxes and the lack of representation. Various protests, like the famous Boston Tea Party, led to the intervention of British troops and the beginning of a war between the colonies and the metropolis (1775). On July 4, 1776, thirteen American colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence.
Read MoreKey Moments of World War II: Canada and Beyond
Dieppe Raid
During the Second World War, on August 19, 1942, the Allies launched a major raid on the small French coastal port of Dieppe. Operation Jubilee was the first Canadian Army engagement in the European war, designed to test the Allies’ ability to launch amphibious assaults against Adolf Hitler’s “Fortress Europe.” The raid was a disaster: More than 900 Canadian soldiers were killed, and thousands more were wounded and taken prisoner. Despite the bloodshed, the raid provided valuable lessons
Bolshevik Revolution & Stalin’s USSR: A Deep Dive
The October Revolution and the Rise of the Bolsheviks
Revision of October 2nd: In October 1917, Lenin returned, provoking the October Coup, which marked the Bolsheviks’ seizure of power. Through a military coup, aided by workers, they took the Winter Palace and created the new government’s Council of People’s Commissars. This Bolshevik-led council established the Soviet state and issued several key decrees:
- Decree on Peace: Sought to end Russia’s involvement in World War I.
- Decree on Land: Redistributed
The 1931 Constitution and the Azaña Biennium
Constitution of 1931
Its main features are:
- Form of State: Spain is defined as a popular sovereignty.
- The Court: Consists of a single chamber, elected every 4 years, with only legislative power, called the “Congress of Deputies.”
- Head of State: Chaired by the President of the Republic, elected every 6 years indirectly. He may dissolve the Cortes up to twice during his tenure and has the right of veto.
- Bill of Rights and Freedoms: Establishes a comprehensive bill of rights and freedoms, most notably that
Timeline of WWII: Battles, Strategies, and Consequences
Key Events Leading to World War II
How did it start?
- 1931: Japan invades Manchuria.
- March 1933: Japan is expelled from the League of Nations.
- October 1933: Germany leaves the League of Nations.
- October 1935: Italy invades Ethiopia.
- March 1936: Germany remilitarizes the Rhineland.
- October 1936: The Rome-Berlin Axis is formed.
- November 1936: Signing of the Anti-Comintern Pact.
- March 1938: Germany invades Austria.
- September 1938: The Sudetenland is transferred to Germany after the Munich Agreement.
- March 1939:
French Revolution, Napoleon, and the Spanish War of Independence
The Directory and the Consulate
After Robespierre, a conservative government was imposed in France. It was the Directory, formed by five members, including Napoleon. Napoleon, a general who had defeated Austria, was highly influential. However, revolutionaries and monarchists wanted to regain control. Consequently, Napoleon organized a coup, which led to a new government, the Consulate, formed by three people. Napoleon became the First Consul in 1799.
Napoleon’s Ascendancy
In 1802, Napoleon was named
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