Explaining History

In the six decades between 1851 and 1914 Britain was transformed by industrialisation and empire. Her politics, society, culture and economy all underwent a radical transition. This is an Explaining History e-book written specifically for A level students to help them master this complex and challenging period of study. It covers * The evolution of the party system in Victorian Britain * The development of working class culture and politics * The expansion of empire and the rise in international tensions * Everyday life for Victorian people of differing social classes * The impact of the industrial revolution * The growth in the franchise * Unrest in Ireland and the issue of home rule * Liberal and Conservative social reforms * Popular imperialism * The causes of the First World War. The e-book also contains a link to a resources web page with downloadable study aids, exam help and essay writing guides.

In six months, from December 1918 to May 1919, the fate of the world was decided by a small group of statesmen and diplomats in Paris. The First World War had left behind a chaotic legacy of new nations, collapsed empires and the question of how Germany should be punished. This eBook is the first in a new series called 'Study Essentials', which takes complex historical events and makes them accessible and easy to understand for students of all experience and abilities. If you are studying inter war diplomacy for the first time, this eBook is the perfect introduction to the Paris Peace Conference. It includes: * A short history of the First World War * An overview of the victorious powers * An overview of the defeated powers * The history of European empires after the war * The historiography of the Paris Peace Conference * Advice on how to answer essay questions

Between 1918 and 1939 diplomats and politicians sought to create a lasting world order. However, they struggled to maintain stability in an international system still struggling with the legacy of the First World War. This eBook focuses on addressing ten of the most complex and challenging questions that face students of inter war diplomacy, including: 1. How did the decisions taken at the Paris Peace Conference affect Europe? 2. How did the decisions taken at the Paris Peace Conference affect Asia? 3. What was the significance of the Washington Naval Conference? 4. What was the significance of the Locarno Treaties? 5. How did the appointment of Hitler in 1933 affect International Relations? 6. What was the impact of the Abyssinia Crisis? 7. How did the Spanish Civil War affect international relations? 8. Why did Britain pursue a policy of appeasement? 9. Why did Stalin and Hitler sign a treaty in 1939? 10. Who is to blame for the outbreak of war in September 1939? This e-book also features additional advice on essay writing and other related subjects.

If the 19th Century belonged to Britain, the 20th Century was the age of American power and world dominance. The American Century charts the rise to global power of the USA and its journey from a regional hegemon to superpower status. It examines the development of an imperial power through the course of two world wars, the long nuclear standoff with the Soviet Union and the economic shocks and crises of the 20th Century. The American Century also examines life for the American people and the experience of living in a racially segregated and often volatile society, where notions of liberty and the American dream were interpreted, negotiated and sometimes rejected by many throughout a tumultuous century.

In the third year of the First World War, The Russian Empire experienced a year of revolutionary turmoil that saw the fall of the emperor, Tsar Nicholas II. This was followed by the creation of an interim government which in turn was overthrown by an extreme revolutionary socialist regime in October that year. By the end of 1917 a government that would rule Russia as a dictatorship for most of the rest of the 20th Century was firmly in power and its establishment would have profound implications for the rest of Russian and 20th Century history. However, the revolution was not simply the product of short term events, instead it developed from long term problems and challenges from within Russia, which the government of the tsars was incapable of controlling. The purpose of this ebook is to focus closely on the revolutionary year of 1917 and explain why not just one but two governments fell in that year. It will also examine how and why the Bolsheviks, a revolutionary socialist party came to power. Firstly, however, we must explore the long term causes of the Russian Revolution, which stretch back deep into Russian history. This e-book also features advice on source-based questions and a section on historical interpretations of the Russian Revolution.