World War II: Development, Aftermath, and Legacy
Development of World War II
We can distinguish two stages:
- 1939 to 1942: At this stage, the German command was winning the war.
- 1942 to 1945: During this stage, the Allies (France, Britain, and Russia) recovered and ultimately won.
Consequences of World War II
There were several types of consequences:
- Human: Nearly 50 million people were killed.
- Economic: For Europe, it involved the destruction of its two major economies. The USA became the most powerful country.
The Cold War
It was not a direct war, but
Read MoreSpain and Canary Islands: Politics and Economy
The Turn System in Spain
What was the turn system?
It was a system in which the two main political parties agreed to take turns in the government peacefully, without promoting political unrest.
Corruption in the Turn System
How was corruption referred to in this system? How was it done?
It was known as chieftaincy or rigging. Chieftaincy (caciquismo) involved influencing people to vote for a specific candidate. Rigging involved altering the outcome of the vote.
The Crisis of 1917
Political Causes
What political
Read MoreEvolution of Governance: From Ancient Greece to Modern Democracies
The Dawn of Governance in Ancient Greece
The concept of governance finds early roots in Ancient Greece. Key features include:
- Pericles and Early Democracy: Introduced concepts like *Isonomia* (equality before the law) and *Isegoria* (equal right to speak in the assembly).
- The Polis: The city-state (*Polis*) was the central unit of political life.
- Exclusionary Democracy: Early democracy was limited, excluding women and enslaved people.
The Decline of the Greek World and the Rise of Cosmopolitanism
The
Read MoreNazism: Rise to Power, Dictatorship, and Policies
The Coming to Power of Nazism
In 1920, Hitler founded the NSDAP (National Socialist German Workers’ Party) and created the SA paramilitary groups (Assault Sections) that threatened political opponents. The Munich Putsch, a failed Nazi coup in 1923, resulted in Hitler’s imprisonment. During this time, he wrote *Mein Kampf* (My Struggle), outlining his undemocratic, anti-Semitic ideology, advocating for a single leader, Pan-Germanism, and territorial expansion at the expense of Eastern European peoples.
Read MoreFrench Revolution: Causes, Development, and Legacy
Section 1: Why the Revolution Broke Out in France
The spread of new Enlightenment ideals, the development of the bourgeoisie in the 18th century, and the example of the American Revolution stimulated the desire for change in Europe. A revolutionary wave began in France in 1789 and spread through Europe in the first half of the 19th century. Its aim was to end absolutism and the Ancien Régime.
The Impact of the Enlightenment and the American Revolution
The Declaration of Independence of the United
Read MoreWorld Economy Between the Wars: WWI and Its Economic Impact
The World Economy Between the Wars: A Breach of Economic Equilibrium
8.1. Triggers of World War I
Symptoms of decline began to appear at the beginning of the twentieth century, and as a manifestation of this breakdown, WWI was triggered. Most history books cite the assassination of the heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire as the main cause, triggering the system of alliances established in previous years. However, there were three fundamental underlying causes:
- Imperialism: The search