Mendizabal’s Disentailment: Impact on 19th Century Spain
Mendizabal’s Disentailment
This letter concerns the expropriation of land from the Church and is addressed to Maria Cristina, the Queen at the time. It was written by Mendizabal in 1836 and is a primary source.
The Rise of Liberalism in Spain
The liberal system began to take root in Spain after the death of Ferdinand VII. Key characteristics of this system included executive power vested in the crown and a leading role for the army. Suffrage was limited, based on income.
Moderate vs. Progressive Liberalism
Within
Read MoreImpact of American Colonies on Europe and Spain
The American colonies provided Europe with new plants (corn, potatoes, tomatoes, beans, pepper, and tobacco), food (cocoa), and some animals (turkey). These products led to changes in the eating habits of Europeans.
Consequences of the Conquest
For the native people, the conquest had mostly negative consequences. Their empires were destroyed, they were subjected socially and economically to the conquerors, and they had to abandon their traditions, their culture, and their economic organization. Their
Read MoreWWII: Causes, Development, and Consequences
Causes of World War II
Aggression of the Fascist Powers
- Japan: 1931 conquest of Manchuria.
- Italy: Mussolini’s 1935 invasion of Ethiopia.
- Germany: Hitler’s actions, including the Sarre (1935), re-militarization of the Rhineland, annexation of Austria, and the Sudetenland (Munich Agreement).
Fascist Allied Powers
The Rome-Berlin-Tokyo (EJE) axis.
Appeasement of the Democratic Powers
The democratic powers’ appeasement of the fascist powers.
Development
(1939-1941) – Offensive Axis
The German army invaded Poland
Read MoreEnlightenment, English & American Revolutions: Key Concepts
The Enlightenment
What is the Enlightenment?
The Enlightenment was a movement of intellectual development in eighteenth-century Europe, which questioned all the principles of the Old Regime. Key features included:
- Absolute faith in reason.
- Support for knowledge.
- Emphasis on education, progress, and tolerance.
- The ultimate goal of human life: happiness.
- Defense of freedom and equality.
The Philosophers of the Enlightenment
Locke and Newton: Influential thinkers of the era.
Montesquieu: Advocated the separation
Read MoreScotland’s History: From Mary Queen of Scots to Today
A Brief History of Scotland
In 1542, Mary became Queen of Scotland at just six days old, the second woman to hold the title. Mary, Queen of Scots, grew into a tall and beautiful woman, but some Scots opposed her reign. Seeking help, Mary went to England and appealed to Queen Elizabeth, but her request was denied. She never returned to Scotland and died in England after nineteen years. Her story is detailed in Mary, Queen of Scots (Oxford Bookworms Stage 1).
Mary’s son, James Stuart, became King of
Read MoreThe Carlist Wars and Reign of Isabel II: A Historical Analysis
The First Carlist War (1833-1839)
Upon the death of Ferdinand VII in 1833, a dispute over succession to the throne between Maria Cristina (the Queen Regent) and her daughter Isabel triggered a civil war that lasted until 1839. The alliance between Maria Cristina and the liberals led to a conflict between liberalism and traditional absolutism. The Basque Country and Navarre became key battlegrounds due to the question of maintaining their provincial privileges, such as the right to tax themselves
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