Cold War & Decolonization: Reshaping Global Power 1945-1991
The Cold War: Causes and Consequences
The Cold War in Europe
With the defeat of the fascist powers, the world’s major ideologies effectively narrowed down to two: U.S.-led capitalism and USSR-led socialism. The capitalist bloc encompassed a wide range of countries across Western and Eastern Europe, North and South America, Australia, and Japan. The opposing ideological bloc, then known as real socialism or communism, was centered in the USSR and rapidly expanded into numerous Eastern European countries.
Read MoreSpain’s Bourbon Restoration (1874-1902)
The Bourbon Restoration (1874-1902)
The Political System of the Restoration
A New Political System
Spanish conservative groups welcomed the restoration of the Bourbon dynasty, hoping the return to monarchy and political stability would end any attempts at democratic revolution and social upheaval. The new political system, based on the principle of a constitutional monarchy and designed by Antonio Cánovas del Castillo, is known as the Bourbon Restoration.
Bipartisanship and Peaceful Transition
The stability
Read MoreKey Events and Transformations of the French Revolution
The French Revolution
Pre-Revolutionary France
Economic Crisis (1780s)
- U.S. Revolutionary War Debt
- Decline in Agricultural Prices
- Treaty with Great Britain (1786) Influx of Industrial Products
- Poor Harvests (1781-1788)
The Assembly of Notables (1787-1788)
- Calonne’s Tax Reform Proposal
- Brienne’s Opposition
- Demand for the Estates-General
Institutional Revolt
- Third Estate’s Grievances
- Meeting of the Estates-General
- Abbé Sieyès’ Call for a National Assembly
- Tennis Court Oath
The National Constituent Assembly (1789-
Read MoreFranco’s Spain: Post-War Economic Policies and Political Foundations
Spain’s Post-War Economic Policy Under Franco’s Regime: Stagnation and Autarky
The physical destruction after the civil war, coupled with an autarkic economic policy and substantial government intervention, caused the Spanish economy to stagnate during the 1940s. Autarkic measures aimed to achieve self-sufficiency, neglecting items that could have been produced domestically. Following the precedent of dictator Primo de Rivera, the state heavily intervened in the economy.
The government tightly controlled
Read MoreChilean Liberal Era: Presidents, Reforms, and the 1891 Revolution
José Joaquín Pérez Mascayano (1861-1866)
Elected with broad support, Pérez aimed to restore calm after the 1859 civil war, issuing an amnesty law in 1861. His administration saw the rise of the Radical Party, advocating for constitutional reform and secular education. A liberal-conservative fusion formed, leading to the War with Spain (1865-1866). Pérez was reelected (1866-1871), focusing on infrastructure: police organization, telegraph expansion, road and railway construction (including the
Read MoreThe Rise of Totalitarian Regimes and World War II
ITEM 9 – The period between the two world wars was characterized by the initial generation of democratic systems. The peace treaties led to the emergence of new states in Europe. Most of them established parliamentary governments, with democracy becoming the majority rule. However, there were ideological currents that challenged democracy. Part of the former combatants of war criticized the parliamentary system. Leagues were established for veterans, especially in Germany, France, and Italy. Opposite
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