Paraguay's Video Assingment

The Paraguay video talk us about the independence of Paraguay, they're proud to be the first Latin-American country to get its independence, and it’s also one of the “cleanest” ones.

The video show us some classic characters of the independence like: Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia, Manuel Belgrano, Pedro Juan Caballero, etc.

It also show us how important was Francia for the Independence, all the plan that he made and always thinking in a cold mode. Unfortunately, after the independence he turned himself into a dictator due to his dream to make Paraguay an Utopia, the perfect society.

It show us how the Argentina confederation influence the Independence and the crisis that the governor, Velasco had to deal with, he even asked for help to the Portuguese.

But finally, Paraguay got its independence in 1811 in less than a month.

Franco-Prussian War Assignment

Otto von Bismarck is considered to be the founder of the modern German state, this is due to his efficiency in battles and diplomacy. This was a very important factor during the Franco-Prussian war. What Otto wanted from that war was to unite all of the little Germans states together, so they can beat the French Empire and realize that together, they can do unbelievable things. It totally worked and as he supposed, Prussia was the most powerful power in that new state due to his military power and territory. He tricked France thanks to the famous “Ems telegram”

The role of the guns was very important, the mitrailleuse, the Dreyse needle gun, the Chassepot rifle. All of them were used over the muzzle-loading weapons, this is due that the breech-loading weapons are easier and faster to reload during the battle, and with that, there’s more efficacy in the shoots and there are more kills in favor of the one controlling and shooting the weapon.

In 21th June, 1870. Leopold of Hohenzollern- Sigmaringen, a Prussian prince, was candidate for the throne of Spain. This application could raise fears of France to be “surrounded " by a potential coalition, similar to the empire of Charles Quint . But it is the political one-upmanship in the context of struggles for influence on the European scene (especially after the failure of the French intervention in Mexico ), which on July 6 , gave the Duke of Gramont , Minister of Foreign Affairs of Napoleon III , to announce that France opposes this application. July 12, Leopold of Hohenzollern -Sigmaringen withdraws, according to the statement of his father Prince Antoine to soothe diplomatic tensions. But on July 13, via France's ambassador Benedetti sent to Leopold in the town of Ems, Napoleon III asked "guarantee" the withdrawal, which is an obvious and unnecessary humiliation. King William of Prussia, is nevertheless confirm the renunciation of the Prince, adding that "it has nothing else to say to the ambassador” is the famous "Ems telegram."

Everything seems to be set, but the story that Otto von Bismarck tells to the media is that the meeting between William of Prussia and the Ambassador of France was an humiliating dismissal of the ambassador, causing outrage among French. Was analyzed later this biased story as a deliberate provocation Bismarck after rebuff of the Luxembourg crisis (1867) , to induce Napoleon III to declare war on Prussia, in order to collect against France various Germanic states south and north , to finally arrive at their unification. But these post hoc analyzes are not confirmed by the correspondence of Bismarck, who seems to have written his story especially to hide the humiliation of having had to yield to French demands. There are no less than the French reaction perfectly served his purpose, even if not necessarily sought war in 1866 after the success of the Battle of Sadowa during the Austro-Prussian War.

Still, that Bismarck is well aware of the realities of the French army: army rifles certainly well, but aging, little prepared for a European war, and demoralized by the disaster of the expedition to Mexico. The risk was therefore measured.

After Prussia won the war, the relation between Germany and France was very cold, it was almost inexistent, even more, WWI & WWII only made things worse for Germany and France, but in 1963, they signed the Elysée Treaty, in which establish the friendship between Germany and France.

After the War. France passed through a dark time called “the Paris Commune”, this movement was based in the ideas of Karl Marx about the Bourgeoisie and the proletarian. Nonetheless this was a dark time due the lack of food, people used to sell rats and animals from the streets only to get money, or even for live due the famine. The final week was called “The Bloody week” due to all the wars that were inside France and it ended with the massacre of Pere-Lachaise Cemetery. After all of this, the number of victims is still unknown, but it’s estimated that approximately 20,000 people died.

Enclave and exclave, assignment: San Marino

San Marino is possibly one of the most famous enclaves in the world. It's told that is also the oldest enclave in existence due that is also believed that it was founded in 301 during the Roman Empire.

Like most of the enclaves, its area is very small (only about 61.2 km^2. They speak Italian so their communication with their neighbors (the “regioni” of Emilia Romagna and Marche).

Even though that San Marino (also known as the Most Serene Republic of San Marino) have just a few km of are, San Marino is considered to have a highly stable economy, with one of the lowest unemployment rates in Europe, no national debt and a budget surplus.

Klemens von Metternich & Charles Maurice de Talleyrand's Essay

Klemens von Metternich & Charles Maurice de Talleyrand are probably the 2 most famous people when we talk about the congress of Vienna. They both share some characteristics (for example; they are controversial characters) and obviously, they are also different in some aspects (Charles supported Napoleon, at least for some time, and Klemens hated the French revolution for personal reasons). Because of this, I’m going to write an essay comparing these two characters in history.

Charles Maurice de Talleyrand:

His ascent to the power as one of the most important person’s in the “Napoleonic Era” was very complex. He first started as a priest and then, during the French revolution, he started his politic career by being one of the church representatives that accepted the values of the French Revolution. Nonetheless, he was still part of the Constitution Committee of the National Assembly, actually he wrote the 6^th article of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen that states:

“Law is the expression of the general will. Every citizen has a right to participate personally, or through his representative, in its foundation. It must be the same for all, whether it protects or punishes. All citizens, being equal in the eyes of the law, are equally eligible to all dignities and to all public positions and occupations, according to their abilities, and without distinction except that of their virtues and talents.”

He was also ambassador of France in England, one of his biggest achievements is to get the neutrality of England for France, that historically talking, is a big achievement.

He tried to avoid “the Terror” from Robespierre in England, but a decree of accusation against him make him go to USA till Robespierre falls in France.

Once Robespierre falls, he sees an opportunity to get more power in a young person called: Napoleon Bonaparte. He support him so he can get to the power, but as the time passed him (Charles) didn’t though that the expansionism was a very good idea. He demitted, but he didn’t quitted his titles.

Time passes and he conspires against the emperor with Fouché. Napoleon suspects something’s wrong so he convenes a trial against Charles. Talleyrand with his exceptional argumentative abilities, humiliates Napoleon which (not very happy by the way) insults Talleyrand, Charles responds:

“What a pity that so great a man should have such bad manners.”

With the fall of Napoleon in 1815, Europe calls for a meeting in Vienna. Originally, so they can decide what punishment should get France and guard the continental hegemony for the rest of the countries.

In this meeting (known as the Congress of Vienna). France was originally not invited, but Talleyrand moved some influences and ask for some favors to be in that congress.

Not only he got in the congress, but also got that the punishment for France was minimum, this obviously using the differences of the other countries in his favor. Using the history and the old allies that France used to have. And with this he built a European balance that lasted about half a century.

In 1834 he retired from politics and in one of his memories states that he “never betrayed a government which had not betrayed itself first”.

He died the 17^th May 1838.

Klemens von Metternich:

Metternich's family was directly affected by both the Revolution and the fighting. After an early education by a series of private tutors, Metternich chose to attend the university at Strasbourg, a city which at various times has been part of either France or Germany (Fortunately, Metternich spoke French and German fluently). Arriving there a year before the French Revolution began, he quickly witnessed one side effect of the coming turmoil; when a mob of Strasbourg citizens attacked the city hall, a repelled Metternich described it as:

"A drunken mob which considers itself to be the people."

Transferring his university studies to the German city of Mainz, he met members of the French nobility fleeing the Revolution who insisted that the insurrection would quickly fail, and he believed them. But when advancing French armies destroyed much of their property and occupied their lands, Metternich and his family were forced to flee to the Austrian capital city of Vienna. He came to view revolutionaries as tyrants who used the word freedom to justify violence. He wrote that:

“The word freedom has for me never had the character of a point of a departure, but a goal…. Order alone can produce freedom. Without order, the appeal to freedom will always in practice lead to tyranny."

Once Metternich was back in Vienna, his career as a statesman and politician advanced rapidly. He married Eleonore von Kaunitz, granddaughter of the Austrian state chancellor, gave him access to the highest social and political circles in the Austrian Empire.

After serving as Austrian ambassador to Berlin and Dresden, Metternich was appointed ambassador to France in 1806.

During his time in France, he tried to study Napoleon (which in that time he considered him as the Conquer of the World), he was not overawed due that what he saw was a short, squat figure with a "negligent" appearance. He appealed to the French emperor's vanity by marrying Napoleon to Marie Louise, daughter of the Austrian emperor Francis I.

He sent such optimistic reports back to Vienna that the Austrian government went to war against France and lost. Yet when Metternich gained favorable peace terms from Napoleon, he was rewarded by being appointed the Austrian minister of foreign affairs in October 1809. In 1813, he was given the hereditary title of prince.

The year 1815 saw Metternich at the peak of his power and popularity in Austria. In 1810, Napoleon had been master of much of Europe, and Austria had been a virtual puppet of French foreign policy; five years later, Metternich had become a key leader in the coalition of countries which defeated the French emperor twice. Now the victors held the fate of Europe in their hands.

When the victorious countries agreed to hold a diplomatic conference at Vienna (the Congress of Vienna), Metternich saw it as a personal triumph. He believed that since Austria was at the center of the European Continent, it was the logical place to "lay the foundations for a new European order."

"I have," he wrote, "for a long time regarded Europe (rather than just Austria) as my homeland."

At the congress, Metternich's mastery of diplomatic maneuvering earned him the title of "the coachman of Europe." More than any other single leader, he seemed to determine the future direction of the Continent. One observer described him as "not a genius but a great talent; cold, calm, imperturbable, and a supreme calculator." Metternich's main goal at the congress was to promote the idea of the "Concert of Europe": if all the great powers acted together or in "concert," they would be able to prevent the outbreak of any large European war like the Napoleonic Wars. They might also be able to see that "the foundations of a lasting peace are secured as much as possible."

Some rulers, such as Tsar Alexander, wanted the congress to create an international "police system" to prevent future revolutions and block the emergence of new Napoleons. Metternich sympathized with this aim, but he also wanted to discourage any Russian interest in expanding into Europe. He also was determined to frustrate Austria's main rival in Germany, Prussia.

After 1815, Metternich devoted increasing amounts of his time to Austria's severe internal problems. The Austrian Empire was a conglomeration of 11 nationalities which had been forced under the rule of the Habsburg family by military conquests in the 17th century. The French Revolution had proved to be a threat to the multinational Habsburg Empire, since it fanned the nationalism of some groups in the Empire, such as the Hungarians. Metternich saw nationalism and liberalism as serious threats to the survival of the Austrian Empire and tried to suppress both. At the Congress of Vienna, he also worked to create confederations in both Germany (where he succeeded) and Italy (where he failed). 

When ultimately unsuccessful revolutions broke out in the Austrian Empire in 1848, Metternich, the "last great master of the principle of balance," became the target of angry mobs. Forced to resign, he went into exile in England before returning to Vienna in 1858. He died there a year later.

Like we can see in this essay is that both of these person used their diplomatic abilities to try to get something out for someone in the congress of Vienna.

For example; Charles was the representative of France (Which originally wasn’t invited to the congress) and reduced the punishment of France from the other countries by using the difference between the other countries and old allies.

Metternich used his diplomatic abilities to unite the other countries in favor of Austria so his country could get more power and respect from them.

And of course they had their differences:

Charles wanted the good of France and supported Napoleon during some time

Metternich hated the French revolution and wanted the good of all Europe (but mostly for Austria).

In conclusion, we’re analyzing the most 2 successful representatives of the Congress of Vienna, not only for the things that they got from it, but also for the position that they had before the congress and after the congress.

Bibliography:

Biography. (12 de Octubre de 2007). Obtenido de Biograpy.yourdictionary.com: http://biography.yourdictionary.com/klemens-von-metternich

Biografias y Vidas. (2 de Abril de 2004). Obtenido de biografiasyvidas.com: http://www.biografiasyvidas.com/biografia/t/talleyrand.htm

Marí, F. (23 de Octubre de 2011). Napoleon Bonaparte. Obtenido de Napoleonbonaparte.es: http://www.napoleonbonaparte.es/biografias/4-politicos-napoleonicos/740-charles-maurice-de-talleyrand.html

Kissinger, Henry A. A World Restored: Metternich, Castlereagh, and the Problems of Peace, 1812-1822. Houghton, 1957.

Kraehe, E. E., ed. The Metternich Controversy. Krieger Publishing, 1977.

May, Arthur J. The Age of Metternich, 1814-1848. H. Holt, 1933.

Milne, Andrew. Metternich. Rowman & Littlefield, 1975.

Palmer, Alan. Metternich. Harper, 1972.

de Sauvigny, G. B. Metternich and His Times. Darton, Longman, and Todd, 1962.

Schroeder, Paul W. Metternich's Diplomacy at Its Zenith, 1820-1823. University of Texas Press, 1962.

Schwarz, H. F. Metternich, the Coachman of Europe: Statesman or Evil Genius? Heath, 1962.

von Metternich, Klemens. Memoirs of Prince Metternich, 1773-1815. Edited by Prince Richard Metternich. Translated by Mrs. Alexander Napier. Scribner, 1880.

Wikipedia. (14 de Octubre de 2008). Obtenido de Wikipedia: http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Maurice_de_Talleyrand

The House of Hanover

The House of Hanover,  refers to the succesion line of:

• George I
• George II
• George III
• George IV

In the video, we only see the succesion to the throne of George I and George II.

The King George I came to the throne thanks that he was a protestant. He was the number 51 (approx.) and all the others 50 before him were catholic, the British Empire didn't wanted a catholic king.

George I was from Germany originally, and he actually never learned how to speak english, he just knew a few words. Obviously a few people were against his crowning (more specifically the Tories).

The Tories thought that the decision of making someone king just because he was a protestant wasn't a good idea, they though that a catholic person could do a work equally right. The Whig party on the other hand, really wanted to be ruled by a protestant, so you can see the conflict here.

Another problem was the relationship between George I - George II, they hated each other actually. They hated each other due that George I accused his wife (Princess Sophie Dorothea) of adultery and he banned her from seeing her kids, obviously George II (son of Princess Sophie)never forgave his father for separating him from his mother.

Baroque Assignment: Vivaldi's 4 Seasons

Everybody has heard this piece of music in their lives. It's one of the most representatives pieces of art in the 18th century.

Written by Antonio Vivaldi in 1725 in a set of 12 concerto's named: "Il cimento dell'armonia e dell'inventione (The Test of Harmony and Invention)." One of the 500 composed concertos had to become a hit, right?

The King Louis XV of France, heard and loved the Spring season's music and he ordered to perform it at the most unexpected moments. That's why it became so popular.

The song is divided in 4 different seasons:

1.- Spring
2.- Summer
3.- Autumn
4.- Winter

The first one represents (obviously) the Spring, the music is a little bit energetic but beautiful, it represents the calm of the spring and the flowers, it's just beautiful how the music can represent the season.

The second one is the Summer, is a little bit darker due the constat rains in the summer and it's way more concentrated on the violin.

The third one is Autumn, I don't know why, but I find this season more relaxing than the Spring, the color of the leaves, the pacific wind, the air, the smell, everything.

The final one is the Winter, obviously this is supposed to be the darkest one due to all the cold and ice in this season, is also a little bit darker and they concentrate a little bit more on the low notes.

Bibliography:

http://classicalmusic.about.com/od/baroqueperiod/ss/fourseasons.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Four_Seasons_(Vivaldi)
http://www.baroquemusic.org/vivaldiseasons.html

History Song

The first song that came to my mind when I read this homework was this one: "Pero - Mero", in English is "But - Mero". I don't know if this song actually counts because instead of talking about the event of 11/09/01. It talks more about how can everything be a conspiracy of the goverment, and shows some "proofs" that were extracted from a documental (I guess, 'cause I remember that I saw THAT documental). Here's the song:

Even tough it can be false, I still think is a great song, 'cause is kind of catchy :)

Now, if you want a 100% true event, we can talk about the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

This song is about the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the fall of communism in Germany, ending 40 years of dictatorial Communist rule. The song also address the fall of communism in Moscow (Russia) and details the waste of time that pasted before freedom was brought to these places, the joy of democracy and emotions of the times... Or at least that's what I think.

"The drum part in this song was inspired by a different part of the world. One hot night I lay under the stars on a rooftop in Togo and heard the sound of drums from across the valley. Even on the edge of sleep the drumming moved me, the rhythm stayed in my head, and while working on this song I used variations of it and other West African influences." 

(Neil Peart explaining the percussion aspect of the song)

The inspiration (obviusly) came because of the fall of the Berlin Wall, everybody was happy, but this song talks more deeply about it, what does it means, why it took so many time to this to happen and who is going to give back all the time of suffering to the people who suffered because of this wall.