In 1898 the Spanish- American war began when America decided to liberate the Spanish colonies Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines. The US won and gained control of the colonies, although instead of liberating the colonies they had fought to free and continue the fight against imperialism they became what they had been telling the world that they resented, an empire. This was the first step the US took towards becoming the world’s toughest police officer. After the First World War was won, President Wilson proposed 14 points at the meeting in Versailles that the rest of the world should follow to gain stability and peace in the world. This was the second step.
POLITICAL Successes: Creating a democracy out of the ashes of defeat and the threat of Revolution in 1918/19 Creating a modern democratic constitution with explicit freedoms, PR, female suffrage and an elected Presidency. Eyck called it “an experiment in liberal, parliamentary democracy” Surviving the revolutionary period of 1918-19 and the hyperinflation crisis of 1923. Creating the stability and foreign policy successes of the ‘Golden Years’ (1924-1929) Henig - remember how fractured German society was – social class, region, age Failures: The ‘Ersatz Kaiser’ - Article 48 gave the President emergency powers. This was used extensively by Hindenburg after 1930. PR allowed small parties like the NSDAP in the 1920s, to thrive.
After it’s establishment in 1900, the fledgling party acted as a pressure group on the Liberal government’s 1906 to 1914, and were instrumental in, for example, The Trades Dispute Act of 1906 and for pushing the governments further than they otherwise would have gone in terms of social reform. The impact of World War One on the Labour Party is significant as to how they managed to form a coalition government with the Liberals in 1924. The Labour Party was a new party formed in 1900 that had no previous experience of working in government. At the beginning of the war they were split between the pacifist views of MacDonald and the pro-war faction views of Henderson. By 1915-1916 the majority of the Labour Party supported the war and Henderson.
They raised taxes from 10-50% and starved the populace to get the maximum profits. Nevertheless, the company continued to suffer financially, and influenced Parliament to pass the Tea Act in 1773 to lift import duties on tea shipped to the American colonies, which ultimately lead to the American War of Independence in April 1775. John Hancock was a merchant, statesman, and prominent Patriot of the Revolution. He served as president of the Second Continental Congress and was the first and third Governor of Massachusetts. Hancock began his political career in Boston as a protégé of Samuel Adams, an influential local politician, though the two men later became estranged.
The Chinese government got really upset so they confronted the British government and this started the Opium war starting in 1899 till 1902. The British didn’t see this as a problem; they crushed the naval forces and in all won the battle. The British had complete control besides the fact that they were corrupting china with opium they also built a colony named Hong Kong. This is a prime example of what I was saying on how the British abused their power. Another major part of European imperialism was the colonization or as I call it the torture of Sudan, in Africa.
It started after the French and Indian Wars that led to several acts purposed by the British congress. These acts included the Stamp Act, Townshend Act, the Intolerable Acts, and the Tea Acts. These new acts were all enacted after the French and Indian War ended in 1763. This war was a great victory for England; however this victory came at a very high cost, literally. England was in debt of over
8. French wanted revenge against Britain. She sent arms and supplies an impord later sent 6000 soldiers to help the American in the battle in New York. 9. the importance of Yorktown was a moral boost to American and French forces, and a big defeat for Britain that was ready to come to terms with the Americans. The war was not ended for more then a year latter.
This rise of Napoleon also triggered lavish spending, ultimately causing the French economy to suffer. “ (page 1) “The England was largely unaffected by the French Wars during the 19th century. However, much of the area ruled by the French allies in Europe suffered in the early part of the century because of Napoleon’s zeal to take over the world, England enjoyed the benefits of the Industrial Revolution, which brought prosperity, particularly from the textile industry. These technical revolution brought along with it new textile production. methods and influenced the development of European costume throughout the continent, extending to the Americas.” (page 2) “Inspired by the First Empire and coinciding with a narrower fashion period referred to as the Director that ranged from 1790 to 1800, the Empire era lasted from 1790 to 1820.
However, what or who caused these reforms to happen? The 1800’s were a time of liberal reform in Britain. These reforms came as a result of two things: the French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution. Although the industrial revolution had made Britain the most powerful nation in the world; it also led to many workers working eighty hour weeks in terrible labor conditions. Before the reforms were passed by Parliament, Britain was controlled by wealthy landowners and aristocrats.
We had a stable political system which was a huge advantage, because in other countries they still had monarchy and if one person disagreed with the king the he would be beheaded. We have had a government since the 17th century with Oliver Cromwell and the civil war. Britain was the first nation in the world to industrialise, with the invention of a steam engine. The invention of the steam engine led to the invention of the train and factories. This meant faster transport and with the invention of the factories economic growth as well.