Lenin, Stalin, Roaring Twenties, and Totalitarianism
Lenin’s Government (1921-1924)
Lenin held absolute power, with the Communist Party (CPSU) as the sole political entity. He established a new political system, the USSR, comprising Russian, European, and Asian republics. The New Economic Policy (NEP) blended communist and capitalist principles, facilitating the recovery of the Soviet economy.
Stalin’s Government (1927-1953)
Stalin implemented “Stalinism,” a political system characterized by violence to eliminate opponents. The state controlled the economy,
Read MoreLiberal Revolutions: 1820, 1830, and 1848
Liberal Revolutions
Revolutions of 1820 and 1830
During the Restoration, liberals gathered clandestinely in secret societies. These companies, forming partnerships, were comprised of individuals who considered themselves heirs of the Enlightenment and the French Revolution. They sought insurrection against absolutism, wielding influence in cities and hoping the people would join the uprising once initiated.
The first revolutionary wave, occurring between 1820 and 1824, caused a temporary collapse of
Read MoreWordsworth’s Poems: Spain, Basque Country, and Democracy
The 12 poems mentioning Spain and The Basque Country show that Wordsworth was a fervent democrat. The Spanish cause won his heart. He was a man who perceived the universe as an equilibrium which man is constantly upsetting. His first general approach to the Spanish question emerged in the form of two sonnets composed in November or December 1808.
Freedom and Divine Harmony
The first sonnet expresses the conviction that freedom is the natural state of the soul and therefore an integral component of
Read More1848: A Year of Revolutionary Change in Europe
The Revolutions of 1848
The Revolutions of 1848 were the last of the three great revolutionary waves of the nineteenth century, following those of 1820 and 1830. While sharing inspiration from the principles of the French Revolution with the latter, their expansion and influence were greater, they were more radical, and they enjoyed significant popular support. They marked the opening of a new era. It was a widespread movement, occurring almost simultaneously in France, most of Italy, Switzerland,
Read MorePrimo de Rivera’s Manifesto: Analysis and Historical Context
Primo de Rivera Manifesto
Type: Primary historical source (provides direct contemporary information) / Circumstantial political text (manifesto) / National public.
Author: Primo de Rivera. The manifesto was published in a mass communication medium (ABC newspaper) to maximize disclosure to the Spanish people, creating a climate conducive to the coup, which began a day earlier, establishing a military dictatorship that lasted 7 years.
Historical Context: Criticism of the Restoration
The Restoration suffered
Read MoreCongress of Vienna and 19th Century Liberal Revolutions
Congress of Vienna (1814-1815)
After Napoleon’s defeat and exile to the island of Saint Helena, victorious countries met at the Congress of Vienna in 1814-1815. Russia, Prussia, and Austria were absolutist states; only Britain had a constitutional monarchy. They proposed three objectives in the meeting:
- Restore Absolutism (Legitimism): The kings were the only ones with legitimacy to govern.
- Holy Alliance: An alliance to protect the monarchs from any revolutionary attempts. Great Britain did not join