Russian Revolution and the Rise of Fascism & Nazism
Causes of the Russian Revolution
At the beginning of the 20th century, Russia’s empire was ruled by the Tsars of the Romanov dynasty and was in a state of turmoil. There was great dissatisfaction:
- Political Level: Autocratic government, political opposition from bourgeois and Marxist parties.
- Economic/Social Levels: Contrast between a rich minority and extremely poor peasants and proletariat.
Revolutions in Russia
- 1905 Revolution: Provoked by general discontent and defeat in the war against Japan. These
Franco’s Spain: Initial Years, WWII, and Autarky (1939-1950)
The Initial Years of the Franco Regime (1939-1950)
The period from 1939 to 1950 marked the initial years of the Franco regime, characterized by a complex interplay of factors:
- Reconstruction of a war-torn country.
- Establishment of a new political system for stabilization.
- Navigating international events and foreign policy challenges.
Spain’s Attitude During World War II
Spain’s stance during World War II was not uniform, evolving throughout the conflict. Initially, Spain declared neutrality, citing its
Read MoreMonarchy, Enlightenment, and Revolutions: Key Concepts
Key Concepts: Monarchy, Enlightenment, and Revolutions
Absolute Monarchy: Estate society, state intervention in the economy, and the principle of absolute authority.
Enlightenment: Reason and spirit of criticism, opposition to absolute rule, and the use of reason for social progress (Voltaire, Montesquieu, and Rousseau).
Enlightened Despotism: Absolute monarchs who adopted cultural principles of the Enlightenment to modernize their states while rejecting its core tenets.
Liberalism: Opposition to
Read MoreThe Spanish-American War: Causes, Consequences, and Modernization
The Crisis of ’98: Causes and Consequences
The seeds of the Crisis of ’98 were sown long before the actual conflict. The promises of autonomy made to Cubans in 1878 were not honored, leading to increasing demands for greater self-governance and eventual independence. Maura’s proposed autonomy for the island failed due to opposition from the Cuban and Spanish economic oligarchies, as well as American pressure. This culminated in a separatist insurgency in Cuba and the Philippines in 1895.
Sagasta and
Read MoreThe Era of Revolutions: Shaping the Modern World
ITEM 4:
1. The Era of Revolutions
From the mid-eighteenth century, various political events transformed Europe and America, laying the foundations of the contemporary world:
- The English colonies of North America became independent, giving rise to the U.S.
- France underwent the French Revolution (1789), ending the former regime.
- The Congress of Vienna attempted to restore the pre-Revolution situation, but the revolutionary and liberal spirit was reborn in the 1820s, 1830s, and 1848.
- Neoclassicism developed
Rise of the Bolsheviks and the Russian Revolution
The Rise of the Bolsheviks
At the First Socialist International, a split emerged regarding World War I. Some supported their governments, while others favored using the war to unite workers against the bourgeoisie. Vladimir Lenin, leader of the Bolsheviks, returned to Russia in April 1917 and proposed his April Theses:
- Rejection of the Provisional Government and its decision to continue the war.
- Control of production and distribution by the Soviets.
- Transformation of the bourgeois republic into a republic