The Peninsular War & 19th Century Spain
Identify who Manuel Godoy was and explain how he influenced the start of the Peninsular War.
Manuel Godoy was the powerful chief minister of King Charles IV of Spain. He influenced the start of the war by allowing French troops to cross Spain into Portugal under the Treaty of Fontainebleau, which led to the French occupation and popular unrest.
Define the difference between an exploitation colony and a settlement colony.
An exploitation colony was primarily set up to extract raw materials and wealth, with few colonists settling permanently. A settlement colony was established for a large number of colonists to permanently emigrate and live there, often replicating the mother country's society.
Identify the two European alliance blocs before WWI.
The two alliance blocs were the Triple Entente and the Triple Alliance.
List the major countries that entered WWI during July 1914.
The countries that entered in July 1914 included Austria-Hungary, Serbia, Russia, Germany, France, and Great Britain.
Identify the primary causes of the Russian Revolution in 1917.
Primary causes included the Tsar's autocratic rule, severe economic hardship and poverty among peasants and workers, military defeats in WWI, and popular discontent with the Tsarist regime.
Describe what happened in the Revolt of Aranjuez (March 1808) and on 2 May 1808 in Madrid.
The Revolt of Aranjuez was a popular uprising that forced King Charles IV to abdicate in favor of his son, Ferdinand VII. The 2nd of May 1808 was the day Madrid's citizens rose up against the French forces occupying the capital.
Explain the concept of a protectorate.
A protectorate was an imperial arrangement where a local ruler was kept in power, but the imperial power controlled the protectorate's defense, foreign policy, and sometimes its economy.
Identify the members of the Triple Alliance.
The members of the Triple Alliance were Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy.
Describe the effects of new weapons and technologies on tactics or casualties in WWI.
New weapons like the machine gun and improved artillery led to massive casualties and forced the adoption of trench warfare tactics. Poison gas, though not decisive, was psychologically devastating.
List the key players in the Russian Revolution.
Key players included Tsar Nicholas II, Vladimir Lenin, Leon Trotsky, and Alexander Kerensky.
Summarise why Ferdinand VII is often considered a disappointment.
Ferdinand VII is considered a disappointment because upon his return to the throne, he abolished the liberal Constitution of 1812 and restored absolute monarchy, persecuting liberals and failing to bring stability or progress to Spain.
List the major imperial powers at the start of the 20th century.
The major imperial powers included Great Britain, France, Germany, the United States, Russia, Belgium, and Japan.
Identify the MAIN acronym that describes the causes of WWI.
The acronym is Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, and Nationalism.
Describe the new weapons/technologies used in WWI.
New technologies included machine guns, long-range artillery, poison gas, tanks, airplanes, and U-boats (submarines).
Explain how the Russian Revolution led to the creation of the USSR in 1922.
The Revolution led to a Civil War between the Bolsheviks (Reds) and their opponents (Whites). After the Bolshevik victory, they consolidated power, and in 1922, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was officially formed as a federal socialist state controlled by the Communist Party.
Describe the turno pacífico and identify one problem.
The turno pacífico (peaceful turn) was a political system during the Spanish Restoration where the two main parties (Conservatives and Liberals) alternated power without genuinely contested elections. One problem was the widespread use of caciquismo (local bossism) and electoral fraud to ensure the predetermined outcome.
Analyze the economic motives for imperialism.
Economic motives for imperialism included the need for raw materials (like rubber, oil, and minerals) to fuel industrial expansion , the desire to find new markets to sell manufactured goods, and the need for new areas to invest surplus capital.
Explain the causes represented by Militarism and Nationalism.
Militarism was the policy of aggressively building up armies and navies, which created an atmosphere of suspicion and competition. Nationalism was intense pride in one's nation, which fueled rivalries and irredentist claims, particularly in the Balkan region.
Analyze life in the trenches of WWI and explain its effect on soldiers.
Life in the trenches was brutal and miserable, characterized by poor sanitation, mud, rats, constant fear of shelling, and disease (e.g., trench foot). This environment led to profound psychological trauma, resulting in conditions like shell shock (PTSD), and a sense of disillusionment and dehumanization.
Describe what is happening in Goya's The Third of May 1808.
The image depicts the execution of Spanish civilians by a firing squad of French soldiers (dressed in uniform) under a dark, nighttime sky. The central figure, illuminated by a lantern, throws his hands up in defiance or despair. In the foreground, dead bodies are piled up, highlighting the brutality of the act.
Examine and discuss the claim that 19th-century Spain was defined more by crisis than by progress.
This question requires an essay-length answer. An effective answer would discuss the crisis of the Peninsular War, the loss of most American colonies, constant political instability (absolutism vs. liberalism), and three Carlist Wars. It would contrast this with progress like the turno pacífico (a period of stability, albeit flawed) and limited industrialization in regions like Catalonia and the Basque Country, ultimately arguing for or against the claim.
Analyze the political/military and ideological motives for imperialism.
Political/Military motives included gaining strategic control over global trade routes, boosting national prestige and power, and establishing naval bases. Ideological motives centered on the belief in racial superiority (e.g., Social Darwinism) and the duty to "civilize" or convert "primitive" peoples (the "White Man's Burden").
Explain why the assassination of Franz Ferdinand escalated into a wider European war.
The assassination provided the spark for the war because the alliance system quickly came into effect. When Austria-Hungary, with Germany's backing, declared war on Serbia, Russia mobilized to defend Serbia (due to Pan-Slavism). Germany then declared war on Russia and its ally, France, and upon invading neutral Belgium, brought Great Britain into the conflict.
Explain the consequences of WWI and what was agreed with the Treaty of Versailles.
This requires an essay-length answer. Consequences included the collapse of four empires (German, Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, Russian) and the immense loss of life. The Treaty of Versailles forced Germany to accept sole blame for the war (the "War Guilt Clause"), pay huge reparations, lose territory, and severely limit its military. It also established the League of Nations.
Analyze how Goya's The Third of May 1808 connects to the periods of history covered in this unit.
This image directly connects to the Peninsular War (Guerra de Independencia), which is a key topic in the "Spain in the 19th Century" section. Specifically, it portrays the mass executions that followed the Spanish uprising against the French on May 2nd, 1808. The painting is a powerful symbol of nationalism and resistance to foreign occupation, which are recurring themes in 19th-century Spanish history and a major cause of WWI.