Absolutism and Enlightenment: Origins, Politics, and Society
The Spanish State
Concept and Origins
An absolute state is a form of governance characterized by:
- The existence of a king who exercises the three powers.
- Dividing society into estates.
This form of government occurred in Europe between 1650 and 1789. These kings were said to have been chosen by God to rule.
Throughout the struggle between the nobility and kings against the Church, several phases developed:
- Feudal Monarchy: Nobles were feudal lords until the monarchs were gradually imposed.
- Authoritarian
Cold War Origins, Blocs, and Key Conflicts
Unit 9: The Cold War (1947-1991)
1. The Origins of the Cold War
1.1. What Was the Cold War?
The Cold War was a period of permanently tense international relations between 1947 and 1991. At the time, the world was divided into two opposing blocs, led by the United States and the Soviet Union.
- The Western Bloc: Countries had democratic political systems and a capitalist economy.
- The Eastern Bloc: Countries had totalitarian Marxist political systems and a centrally planned economy.
Joseph Stalin (1878-1953)
Read MoreMarxism and Feminism: Key Concepts and Historical Context
Scientific Socialism: Marxism
Based on the historical study of the transition from one society to another, Karl Marx and his collaborator and friend Friedrich Engels made an analysis of capitalist society, delving into its contradictions and raising the means for their destruction.
Marxism is distinct from the theoretical, reformist, idealistic, and unrealizable ideas of so-called utopian socialism. Marxist ideas are not a unitary block, since Marx’s writings have been supplemented over time and have
Read MoreMaria Christina’s Regency: Political Opposition, Regionalism & Nationalism
The Regency of Maria Christina of Austria: Political Landscape
Following the death of Alfonso XII in 1885, his pregnant wife, Maria Christina of Austria, became regent until their son, Alfonso XIII, reached adulthood in 1902. This period was marked by significant political and social changes in Spain.
The Turnismo System
Fearing instability after Alfonso XII’s death, Cánovas del Castillo, leader of the Conservative Party, agreed with Práxedes Mateo Sagasta, leader of the Liberal Party, on a system
Read MoreBourgeois Revolutions: Rise of the Bourgeoisie and Napoleon’s Empire
The Rise of the Bourgeoisie Through Revolution
The bourgeois revolutions enabled the bourgeoisie to gain political power and a social status previously exclusive to the nobility under the Ancien Régime. These revolutions primarily occurred in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
American War of Independence (1775-1783)
Great Britain fought its thirteen colonies, located on the Atlantic coast of North America, in the American War of Independence.
Causes of the War
- Ideological Factors: The ideals of
Cuba’s Path to Independence: From Colony to Revolution
As a colony exploited for its resources, Cuba was a major producer of sugar, snuff, coffee, and cotton. Plantations relied on black slave labor in subhuman conditions.
Economic Grievances and Seeds of Rebellion
A primary grievance was the imposition of free trade, where Spanish products entering the island paid lower tariffs than those from other sources, creating impossible competition for Cuban businesses.
Challenges Faced by the Spanish Army
- Most Cubans desired independence.
- Cuban military leaders