Key Events & Figures Leading to World War II
Key Events and Figures Leading to World War II
- Kristallnacht: A night of Nazi attacks on Jewish businesses and synagogues that signaled a rising anti-Semitism in Germany.
- Atlantic Charter: US-British agreement of August 1941 that promoted democracy and called for the establishment of a new international organization for peace.
- Appeasement: The British-French policy of attempting to prevent war by granting Germany’s demands.
- America First Committee: The leading isolationist group calling for non-intervention
World War I: Causes, Key Events, and Impact
The First World War
Also known as the Great War or WWI, due to its size and geographic breadth.
Causes
- Territorial Claims:
- Between Russia and Austria-Hungary in the Balkans.
- Between France and Germany for Alsace and Lorraine.
- Economic Rivalries: Between Germany and Britain for control of international trade.
- Colonial Interests: Which provoked local conflicts fueled by Germany to gain territories, such as the Moroccan crisis.
- Block Forming Alliances:
- The Triple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy)
Restoration Crisis (1898-1931): Dynastic Reformism & Failure
The Crisis of the Restoration (1898-1931)
1. Dynastic Reformism
1.1. The Failure of the First Regenerationist Government
Following the disaster of 1898, Queen Regent Maria Cristina, widow of Alfonso XII, formed a government with the conservative Francisco Silvela. Silvela aimed to implement reforms, including figures like General Camilo Polavieja and Catalan regenerationist Manuel Duran i Bas in his government. A process of administrative decentralization and financial reform, including new taxes,
Read MoreSpain’s Second Restoration: Democratic Consolidation (1979-2004)
The Second Restoration (1979-2004)
The second term was marked by the advance of democratic consolidation, but also by the decline of the UCD in the government and a coup attempt to abort the infant democracy in 1982. It is the beginning of a period of democratic normalcy in that two parties have alternated in government: the PSOE (1982-1996) and the PP (1996-2004).
The Governments of the UCD
Once the constitution was approved, the Parliament was dissolved, and elections were called for March 1979.
Read MoreThe Old Regime, Enlightenment, and Spanish Succession
The Old Regime: Economic, Political, and Social Structures
The Old Regime was characterized by:
- Economic: Commercial activities
- Political: Absolutism
- Social: Estates system
The Enlightenment: Challenging the Old Order
The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement that questioned the principles of the Old Regime. Key figures included John Locke, Isaac Newton, Montesquieu, and Voltaire.
Absolute Monarchy: The King’s Unlimited Power
In an absolute monarchy, the king held absolute power without accountability.
Read MoreSpain’s 19th Century: Economy, Society, and Industry
Economic Transformations and Social Changes in 19th-Century Spain
The 19th century in Spain was marked by significant economic and social transformations. A key aspect of this period was the disentailments. Agriculture underwent a major reform with the abolition of the feudal system, primogeniture, and large-scale confiscations under Madoz and Mendizabal. These measures aimed to liberalize agriculture, allowing land to move freely in the market and removing obstacles to capitalist development. Most
Read More