Korean War: Causes, Conflict, and Consequences
The Korean War (1950-1953)
Korea was formerly a possession of Imperial Japan in the 19th century. After 1945, the southern part of the peninsula was occupied by American allies, and the northern part by the Red Army, allied with the Chinese army. The border was divided by the 38th parallel. The Communist victory in China in October 1949 clearly threatened U.S. hegemony in Asia, mirroring the Communist expansion in Europe. The U.S. aimed to make Japan the “Germany of Asia,” a capitalist frontier against
Read MoreWorld War I: Causes, Battles, and Aftermath
World War I: A Comprehensive Overview
World War I, also known as the Great War, was the first global conflict, mobilizing all human and economic resources. Seventy million soldiers were mobilized. The war imposed a war economy to procure guns and ammunition for the army, while the population suffered rationing and hardship. To obtain resources, the military resorted to public debt issuance.
Phases of the War
War of Movement
The German Schlieffen Plan aimed to win on the Western Front and focus on the
Read MoreBasque Language: Origins, History, and Dialects
The Basque language, known as Euskara, stands apart as a linguistic isolate, not directly related to major language families like Indo-European or Romance languages. It is a unique language within Europe, surrounded by Indo-European languages such as Romance (Spanish, French) and Germanic languages.
Basque and Other Languages
While Basque is not directly derived from Latin, it has been influenced by Romance languages. Over centuries, it has borrowed words from Gascon, Aragonese, Castilian, and French.
Read MoreSecond Spanish Republic: Military, Religious, Education
The Military Problem
Approach:
The army, as an institution, was offended by the alleged republican reforms. Many army soldiers were alarmed at the prospect of religious autonomy. Spain had lost all its overseas colonies. The army, mostly monarchist or conservative, viewed Republican reforms with deep suspicion.
Process:
Azaña, as Minister of War during the caretaker government, wanted to end the military macrocephaly. He sought to reduce its forces, ending the special privileges of the military and
Read MoreSpain’s Restoration: The Political System of Cánovas
The Political Regime of the Restoration and Cánovas System
After the six-year revolutionary period (Sexenio Revolucionario), the idea championed by Cánovas del Castillo to restore the Bourbon monarchy in the figure of Alfonso XII gained momentum. He intended this to be a political change, drafting a manifesto signed by the Prince at Sandhurst. However, the coup d’état by Martínez Campos precipitated events.
On January 1, 1875, Alfonso XII made his triumphal entry into Madrid, beginning his reign.
Read MoreBourbon Reforms: Centralization in 18th Century Spain
Bourbon Reforms & Centralization in Spain
The change of dynasty to the Bourbons was central. They implemented a uniform administrative model based on Castilian and French systems, leading to the abolition of most traditional charters (fueros) in the former Hispanic kingdoms.
These charters, known as fueros, were sets of rules, rights, and privileges granted by the monarch to specific locations, used in the Iberian Peninsula since the Middle Ages.
The Nueva Planta Decrees
The first Spanish Bourbon
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