16th & 17th Century European History: Key Figures & Events
Characters
Juan Padilla:
He was a Castilian gentleman and revolutionary, known for his involvement in the War of the Communities of Castile.
Antonio Perez:
He was the secretary of Philip II of Spain, son of Gonzalo Pérez (Secretary of Charles I). His descent from Spain and Aragon allowed him to escape persecution from the king.
Juan de Lanuza:
Chief Justice of Aragon during the reign of Philip II, where he participated in the events surrounding the arrest of Antonio Perez and the subsequent riots. He
Read MoreThe Progressive Era and US Imperialism: A Comprehensive Overview
The Progressive Movement
1. Goals of the Progressive Movement: More Government Involvement to Fix Wrongdoing
(a) Social
- Hull Houses: Jane Addams/Lincoln Steffens – Food and shelter for the poor and immigrants
- YMCA: Programs, libraries, and sport for young people
- Salvation Army: Provides food, clothing, and medicine
(b) Efficiency
- Assembly Line: Specialization of work, faster production, drops prices, Henry Ford
- Frederick Winslow: Scientific management, math to determine how many workers to hire and how
A History of Economic Thought: From Mercantilism to Keynesianism
Schools of Thought
Scientific theories are derived from the facts of experience acquired by observation and experiment. Science is based on what we can see, hear, and touch. Personal opinion or preference and speculative imaginings have no place in science. Science is objective and reliable knowledge. This view became popular during the Scientific Revolution that took place in the 17th century and was brought about by scientists such as Galileo and Newton.
Early Days of Capitalism and Liberalism
The
Read MoreThe Crisis of Democracies and the Rise of Fascism
3. The Crisis of Democracies and the Emergence of Fascism
The Crisis of Democracies
At the end of World War I, a spirit of optimism and pacifism spread between European countries, identifying with the triumph of freedom versus the old and defeated Central Empires. The realization of the right to independence by various nationalities and the creation of the League of Nations as an international forum seemed to presage that the Great War would not be repeated.
However, several factors demonstrated the
Read MoreThe Rise and Fall of Real Socialism in the 20th Century
Real Socialism in the 20th Century
Origins and Early Development
Socialism, as a means of expressing communist regimes in the 20th century, originated in the 19th century, spearheaded by Karl Marx. Marxist ideologies gave rise to two distinct movements: social democracy (the belief that a more egalitarian society could be achieved within a liberal democracy) and real socialism (communism implemented by the government, not merely as an ideology). Real socialism emerged in 1917 with the Bolshevik revolution
Read MoreThe American and French Revolutions
1. The Revolutionary Wave and the American Revolution
1.1. The Causes of the Revolutionary Wave
The end of the eighteenth century saw the old models of government, society, science, and economics become obsolete. Drastic changes were imposed:
- Absolute Monarchy gave way to more participative forms of government.
- The Middle Class became the strongest force in society.
- Developments in the sciences brought discoveries and technological information.
- The Industrial Revolution changed a primarily agricultural