Cold War & EU: Key Terms, Events, and Impact
Key Terms of the Cold War and the European Union
Cold War Terms
- Veto Power: The right to unilaterally prevent a resolution from being enacted.
- Gerontocracy: A political regime where power is held by significantly elderly individuals.
- Communes: Agricultural production cooperatives where private property was abolished.
- CIA (Central Intelligence Agency): Intelligence agency created in 1947 by U.S. President Truman.
- Kremlin: Seat of the Soviet government in Moscow.
- Ulster: Region of Northern Ireland that remained
Spain Under Alfonso XIII: Political and Social Turmoil
During the last quarter of the 19th century, Spain experienced a period of stability. However, the 20th century, under the reign of Alfonso XIII, saw a mismatch between the two-party system and the plurality of society.
Crisis of the Restoration System
The crisis began at the start of Alfonso XIII’s reign, following the loss of colonies. This sparked regenerationist calls for constitutional reforms.
Causes:
- The deaths of party leaders Sagasta and Canovas fragmented their parties, hindering peace and
19th Century: Conservative Liberalism, Economic Shifts, and Imperialism
Conservative Liberalism
The Bourbon Restoration was the return of the Bourbon dynasty to the throne of Alfonso XII in Spain. Spain did not recover the monarchical system after the First Republic. The shift of games was a system introduced by Cánovas that consisted in the two major parties, Conservative and Liberal, taking turns.
- The Conservative Party: Founded by Cánovas del Castillo, it brought together political moderates. Its social wing was based on the aristocracy, the gentry, and the traditional
High Gothic Architecture: Characteristics and Evolution
High Gothic Architecture: 12th to 15th Century
High Gothic, a style that flourished from the 12th century to the end of the 13th and 14th centuries, continued to develop into the 15th century until it was eventually superseded by the Renaissance. However, its influence persisted into the 16th century, particularly in the Iberian Peninsula. Italian Gothic architecture, which was given its name by Vasari in the 16th century, was considered at the time to be a style of the Goths. It is seen as an evolution
Read MoreThe Second Spanish Republic: Reforms and Challenges
The Second Spanish Republic: A Time of Change
The Second Spanish Republic was divided into three stages: the Biennium Reform, the CEDA, and the Popular Front, which ended with the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War.
The Pact of San Sebastian and the Rise of the Republic
In San Sebastian, the pact that gave rise to the Second Republic was formed. It was finally agreed with the Socialists to participate in a transitional Republican government chaired by Niceto Alcalá Zamora. The Republicans proposed
Read MoreCapitalist and Communist Blocs: Post-War Evolution
The Evolution of the Capitalist World
Political Developments
- The disappearance of military dictatorships in countries of Southern Europe. The so-called Carnation Revolution put an end to the dictatorship in Portugal. Spain, meanwhile, began the transition to democracy in 1975 after the death of Franco.
- The birth of Eurocommunism. European communist parties agreed to the accession to power by parliamentary means, due to the obvious difficulty of a Communist revolution in the capitalist countries of