First World War: Causes, Events, and Consequences
Outbreak and Global Impact
The First World War, ignited in Europe, rapidly spread across the globe due to the involvement of numerous colonies. Non-European countries like Brazil, the USA, and Japan were drawn into the conflict. The war’s origins lay in the Balkans, sparked by the assassination of the Austro-Hungarian heir by a Serbian-linked terrorist group. Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, triggering a cascade of alliances.
Alliances and Key Players
The major powers aligned into two opposing
Read More1808 Crisis: Independence War & Liberal Revolution
The Crisis of 1808: The Start of the War of Independence and the Liberal Revolution
In late 1807, the situation in the country was very serious. Successive wars, famine, and the collapse of colonial trade, exacerbated by Napoleon’s blockade against Britain, had brought the nation to its knees. The treasury was bankrupt. Continuous wars and economic hardships were not alleviated by the confiscation of 1797.
All social groups were indignant. They accused Godoy of the military defeats and the economic
Read MoreFrench Revolution, Napoleonic Era, and European Restoration
Revolutionary Wars
France declared war on Prussia and Austria, supported by an Austro-Prussian invasion. The execution of Louis XVI led to a coalition of European states attacking France. France conquered territories and emerged victorious, thanks to its large national army and the discipline that allowed soldiers to rise regardless of social class. Napoleon’s army was unstoppable. His dream was to make Paris the capital of the world and unite Europe in a constellation of states. In 1803, he faced
Read MoreSpanish Colonial Decline & Primo de Rivera’s Dictatorship
The Decline of the Spanish Overseas Colonial Empire
Important Spanish overseas colonies, Cuba and Puerto Rico, based their economy on agriculture for export. Due to tariff laws, these territories became a “captive market.” Catalans, who hurt the islands, could be found in U.S. products, which were cheaper and of better quality.
The Cuban Problem and the Spanish-American War
The long war (1868-1878) settled with the peace of Zanjón. Insurrections began again in 1895 for independence in the Philippines.
Read MoreRussian Revolution: From Tsarist Rule to USSR
In 1917, the Russian Empire underwent a revolutionary process that ended the autocratic government of Tsar Nicholas II.
The Fall of Tsarist Russia
Causes of the Revolution
- Autocratic Government: The Tsar had unlimited power and authority.
- Semi-Feudal Economy: Agricultural land was owned by a wealthy minority and worked by a peasant majority.
- Social Unrest: The power of Tsar Nicholas II decreased.
- Russo-Japanese War: They fought for control of Manchuria.
- Emergence of Political Parties:
- The Constitutional
Key Events and Figures in Spanish History
Facts to Remember
- Pact of El Pardo: The El Pardo Pact was an agreement held on 24 November 1885, on the eve of the death of King Alfonso XII, between Cánovas del Castillo and Práxedes Mateo Sagasta, respective leaders of the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party. The aim was to support the regency of Maria Christina of Austria (pregnant with the future King Alfonso XIII) and ensure the continuity of the monarchy given the difficult situation created by the untimely death of the young monarch,