Assess the causes of The Mexican Revolution.

Student Number: 520005993 ASSESS THE CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION A revolution is a rapid, far-reaching or violent change in the political, social or economic structure of society; revolution is more often manifested in political form. The Great revolution in Mexico consisted of the years between 1910-1920. However, more revolutionary ideas and battles continued on until about 1940 when a right turn was made and the revolution ended. In order to assess the causes of the revolution, it is necessary to look back to before to find out what was happening then. There were many consequences of the revolution, too many to be accounted for in this essay and probably many more to come still. CAUSES The Mexican Revolution was brought on by, among other factors, tremendous disagreements between the people of Mexico over the dictatorship of Porfirio Díaz. The era of the Díaz regime was one of the most important stepping-stones leading to the Great Revolution. Díaz ruled for a period of about thirty years between 1876 and 1911. Díaz was a dictator who was supported by conservative landowners and foreign capitalists. He centralized the state at the expense of the peasants and Indians, and dismantled all local and regional leadership. He faced mounting and revolutionary opposition in his final years and was forced into exile in 1911 after Francisco Madero stole

  • Word count: 2164
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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What were the differences and similarities between the groups which were victimised in Maoist China and in Cambodia under Pol-Pot and what were the reasons for their victimisation?

What were the differences and similarities between the groups which were victimised in Maoist China and in Cambodia under Pol-Pot and what were the reasons for their victimisation? Evidence Cambodia In the three year rule of Pol-Pot in Cambodia, he developped several extremist ideas and targeted at a certain group of people. The abolishment of any cultural, literary and artistic remnants and the uprooting of the "imperialists", "colonialists" and other "oppressor classes" were his main ideas. These were implemented from 1977 onwards. The party had a proletarian standpoint and further wanted the creation and strengthening of revolutionary culture, literature and art of the peasant class.1 In the so called Four-Year Plan which Pol-Pot's party drew up, education was to be consisting only of agricultural skills, party politics, the history of the revolution and some basic education in the sciences. The primary concern though was agricultural development. Literacy, in their view, was necessary for "building socialism and revolutionary consciousness. The correct way to read and write was therefore to read like a peasant, not questioning meaning or source of what they read. Critical examining and analysing of party lines and goals identified "traitors", which were trying to sabotage the revolution. 2 The revolutionary consciousness could not be attained by those who allegedly

  • Word count: 1626
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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How did industrialisation affect healthand environment before 1850? Discuss in relation to a geographical area of your choice.

How did industrialisation affect health and environment before 1850? Discuss in relation to a geographical area of your choice. Industrialisation was '' a revolution in men's access to the means of life, in control over their environment, in their capacity to escape from the tyranny and niggardliness of nature''.1 Industrialisation had occurred in three broad periods in different countries. The effects it had on people and the communities as a whole was very evident. When one factor affects the living then soon after another factor affects living in a dramatic way. For example the environmental causes such as air pollution, acid rain, light and water and the "... effects of water pollution include those involved in human health. Nitrates in drinking water can cause a disease in infants that sometimes results in death."2 However from 1780s and onwards in Britain people could survive, starvation was no longer a strong possibility and very few people died and the "revolution frees humans from tyranny of nature".3 My study aims to focus on Bradford a town which was very unfit to live in during industrialisation due to bad living health and environmental causes, such bad housing, standards of living, and many infectious diseases like cholera. There have been many debates over standards of living by two groups of historians. The 'optimists' who say that living standards improved

  • Word count: 2131
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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'The massacre of the Champ de Mars' - Questions in the form of a short essay.

Imagine that you are writing a study of 'The massacre of the Champ de Mars'. In the form of a short essay (not more than 800 words) answer the following questions: . What kind of primary source is this, and what strengths and limitations does it have as a source for a study of the massacre of the Champ de Mars? 2. Are there any particular words and phrases in the document that require elucidation or special comment before you can make use of it? 3. What can you learn from this source about the massacre of the Champ de Mars? You should distinguish between the witting and unwitting testimony. This extract written by Mme Marie-Jeanne Roland to a confidant is a private source that might have served to relate the latest news from Paris to someone who perhaps resided in the countryside. As a primary source, it has several strengths in that a) it recounts the events of 17 July 1791, so it is directly related to the topic of this study; b) it was written the day after the massacre, thus it could be deemed to provide a timely testimony of the previous day's events; and c) it conveys the feelings and opinions of a politically active woman whose knowledge of, and involvement in, the Parisian politics of 1791 make her a credible source. The document, however, also contains various limitations. Firstly, it is not clear whether the source is an eyewitness account of the massacre or

  • Word count: 1026
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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Explain the absence of revolution in Britain and Russia before 1890

Explain the absence of revolution in Britain and Russia before 1890 Despite the appalling conditions endured by the lower classes and the writings of Karl Marx, there was no real revolution in Britain and Russia before 1890 because of the ineffective organisation of the oppressed classes and the ability of the ruling classes to neutralise class tensions at critical times. The only real form of revolution which could have occurred was a socialist revolution due to the influence of Marx's writings before the 1890s. Marx declared that in order for some form of revolution to occur, the political and social conditions would have to be right. For example, Marx argued that a society would have to go through a capitalist system before reaching a socialist society, a society ruled by the working classes. Russia's conditions were perhaps not ideal due to the fact that they were a feudal state, and seemed to be not moving towards capitalism as quickly as the other European nations, as their large peasant and small bourgeoisie population suggested. Britain's conditions were not suitable also because the grievances of the oppressed classes were always shelved by other issues such as the British conquest of India. This essay will split the issue of why there was no revolution in each country by considering them separately and then drawing similarities between the two countries. Generally,

  • Word count: 1546
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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Is the Cultural Revolution best characterised as a top-level power struggle or a mass movement?

. Is the Cultural Revolution best characterised as a top-level power struggle or a mass movement? 'In the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, it is the masses who must liberate themselves. We cannot do the things for them which they should do for themselves. We must trust the masses, rely on them and respect their creative spirit...We must not be afraid of disorder.' (Mao Zedong quoted in Chan et al, 1980) Mao's epic return to the political limelight on July 16th 1966 not only stunned the masses of China, but also sent shockwaves rolling through the political establishment. Amidst rumours of illness and death, Mao surprised everyone by springing back on to the scene and swimming 15km of the Yangzi River at Hangkou. A tremendous feat for a man 73 years of age; reports in the media quickly hailed him as superhuman. This was indeed the comeback that Mao had desired, having felt increasingly threatened by his 'advancing age...and his concern that his senior colleagues were seeking to shunt him aside' (Spence, 1991, 603). In 1965, Mao had become angry at the extent to which the Politburo under Liu Shaoqi, and the Secretariat under Deng Xiaoping had taken policy making into its own hands1. Having retreated to Shanghai where he gathered with hard-line Communist intellectuals, he set about planning the initial stages of what Mao felt would reignite his Communist Revolution. For

  • Word count: 7018
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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Intrigue and controversy surround the role of Grigorii Efimovich Rasputin in the final years of the Tsarist Empire and the rule of Nicholas II in particular.

Intrigue and controversy surround the role of Grigorii Efimovich Rasputin in the final years of the Tsarist Empire and the rule of Nicholas II in particular. From extremely humble beginnings in the deprived state of Siberia, to virtually unlimited access and potential influence over the Russian royal family, Rasputin's life and influence are both the stuff of legend and shrouded in mystery. There is limited reliable evidence on Rasputin's earlier life and, as a consequence, many writers have tended to focus his colourful habits and lifestyle, following his rise to a position of influence within the Russian court. This has contributed to popular understanding of his role and influence on Russian politics that has focused much more on personality than any formal examination of the extent to which he contributed to the downfall of the Russian royal family. Reliable sources are not plentiful, but such records do exist and provide us with an intriguing catalogue of events and opinions surrounding not only Rasputin but also those who closely surrounded him during his times at the Alexander Palace. Understandably when dealing with such highly sensitive issues, many differing opinions exist as to Rasputin's influence have on Tsar Nicholas, Alexandra and the Romanov Empire itself. To a large extent these hinge on whether the preoccupation with Rasputin's personal characteristics and

  • Word count: 4079
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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What divided Whigs and Tories in the reigns of William III and Queen Anne (1688-1714)?

History Essay 2: Whigs & Tories Divided 2. What divided Whigs and Tories in the reigns of William III and Queen Anne (1688-1714)? The Glorious Revolution brought about numerous changes to Britain, and perhaps most significantly was the growth in power for parliament. This essay shall attempt to answer what divided the parliamentary parties, the Whigs and Tories, during the reign of William III and Queen Anne in the late 17th to early 18th century, whilst examining the history of the surrounding and subsequent future events of this divide. The political background of Britain prior to 1689 was in turmoil as a result of the upheaval of James II. Due to his pro-Catholic agenda, and for having a son who could continue this policy, William of Orange (later to be William the III) was invited to Britain to defend Protestantism and depose of James. In late 1688, he landed with an army and ousted James, letting him escape to France - this would cause subsequent problems later on. After Parliament was called, it was decided that the throne was vacant and in Mary's interests William became king (Trueman, 2000). After 1689 Parliament began to meet yearly, with a general election being every 2 years; the two parties, Whig and Tory, consistently contended with one another (it should be noted that these two parties existed prior to William and Anne's reign). The first of many issues

  • Word count: 2161
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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What were the social, economic and political consequences of Tsarist economic policies during 1890-1905?

What were the social, economic and political consequences of Tsarist economic policies during 1890-1905? The Tsarist government's attempts to industrialise Russia during the 1890s resulted not only in a notable increase in industrial production but also led to the development of a restless urban working class and the emergence of more radical parties in order to represent them. Towards the latter part of the nineteenth century Russia was determined to maintain its self as a Great Power and be on a par with the 'giants' of the West. Yet it realised that if it was to achieve this goal then it would have to industrialise itself rapidly in order to create a larger and more advanced armed forces. Like Stalin with the Five Year Plans, Alexander III hoped that through the appointment of Witte, Russia could industrialise on a massive scale in order to catch up with Western Europe and also to prepare itself for the likely hood of a future war with the German Empire. Yet like the policies of Stalin, (nearly 30 later) this industrialisation had profound effects on Russian society. Industrialisation led to many peasant migrants coming to the cities from the countryside in order to work in the new factories. As a result there was severe overcrowding, especially in the two principal cities, Moscow and St Petersburg. Class consciousness was becoming more evident, with the

  • Word count: 2034
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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What was the most important factor in the process of industrialisation?

What was the most important factor in the process of industrialisation? To attempt to answer the question of what was the most important factor in the process of industrialisation, it is necessary to look at each of the major factors in turn and try to assess their significance. I have identified six main factors and will consider them both on their own merits and on the ways they relate to each other. I will begin by looking at the issue of capital and the effects of a low rate of interest on industrialisation. Secondly, I will consider the development of agriculture and the land enclosures. I will proceed to discuss the impacts of the textile and coal mining industries and also look at the ways in which transport was revolutionised. The last factor which I will consider is the growth of the iron industry. The use of steam for industry and transportation will be discussed in the light of its association with all of the industries. I will then try to determine which, if any, of these factors is the most important. One of the crucial factors in the process of industrialization was the availability of cheap capital. This was the result of the progressive lowering of the rate of interest until it reached 3% in the 1750s. In 1757 the 3% Consolidated Stock was introduced, bringing together several issues into one.1 This made borrowing cheaper and encouraged investment in

  • Word count: 2250
  • Level: University Degree
  • Subject: Historical and Philosophical studies
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