The Crisis of 1808: Independence War and Liberal Revolution
The Crisis of 1808: War and Revolution
The Crisis of 1808 encompasses a series of pivotal events: the exile of the Bourbon dynasty, the War of Independence, and the onset of liberal policies.
Causes of the Crisis
A) International Status
The period was marked by the cycle of wars stemming from the French Revolution:
- Against Revolutionary France: Ended with the Peace of Basel in 1796.
- Against the UK: Trafalgar, 1805.
- Alliance: Treaty of Fontainebleau, 1807 with Napoleon.
B) Economic Crisis
- Need to raise taxes
Westward Expansion and the Settlers of Texas
Relations Between Settlers and Native People in Texas
The relationship between settlers and the native people of Texas evolved through several stages. Initially, newcomers interacted with the native people, primarily hunters and traders, leading to a “frontier of inclusion.” Settlers began to integrate into the community and adopt native customs. However, this period of relative peace gave way to tension as the American population surged, particularly during the gold rush. Competition for resources
Read MoreHistory of the United Kingdom and Anglo-Saxon England
The Formation of Great Britain and the United Kingdom
Great Britain is comprised of three countries:
- Scotland
- England
- Wales
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland includes these countries plus Northern Ireland.
History of the Making of the UK
- 1536: The Act of Union joins England and Wales.
- 1707: The Act of Union unites Scotland and England, along with Wales, to form the Kingdom of Great Britain.
- 1801: The Irish Parliament votes to join the Union. The Kingdom of Great Britain becomes the
French Revolution: Causes, Stages, and Aftermath
The Outbreak of the French Revolution
Causes of the Revolution (Since 1760)
Several factors contributed to the French Revolution:
- Bad harvests pushed up the price of food.
- The bourgeoisie, enriched by the economic growth of the eighteenth century, were dissatisfied with their political marginalization because only the privileged could hold positions of power.
- The monarchy was plunged into a deep financial crisis due to high state spending. The solution proposed was tax reform, compelling the aristocracy
Franco’s Spain: Dictatorship, Civil War, and Transformation (1939-1959)
The Franco Dictatorship (1939-1959)
The Franco regime, arising from the Civil War, was a personal dictatorship where power was unquestioned. After World War II, the regime promoted anti-Catholic discourse, enabling its integration into the Western world. Despite these changes, the starting point was disastrous, marked by international isolation and the suppression of post-war exiles. Disappearances and limited production were rampant.
A Divided Spain
The Civil War left a Spain of winners and losers,
Read MoreThe Enlightenment: Key Ideas, Thinkers, and Impact
The Enlightenment: An Age of Reason
The Enlightenment was an 18th-century intellectual and cultural movement that questioned the foundations of the Ancien Régime. Enlightenment thinkers championed reason as the primary means of understanding the world. They rejected anything that could not withstand rational scrutiny as deception and falsehood. Tolerance was considered fundamental to human relations, and religious intolerance was strongly criticized. They believed that education and progress would
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