Essays by RevLeft's History Students

[Random Precision]

The following post is an attempted compilation of various historical essays written by users of RevLeft. These articles are not necessarily written for university classes, but the criteria that defines them is that they all strive to be intelligent and most of all well-sourced arguments on their topics. As people post more articles I will add them here.

Author: bcbm (http://www.revleft.com/vb/member.php?u=10731)

Historical Anti-Fascism and the Need for Continued Resistance (http://www.revleft.com/vb/showpost.php?p=673338&postcount=1)

Author: BobKKKindle$ (http://www.revleft.com/vb/member.php?u=11857)

A Trotskyist Analysis of the Cultural Revolution, Part 1 (http://www.revleft.com/vb/trotskyist-analysis-cultural-t123025/index.html)
A Trotskyist Analysis of the Cultural Revolution, Part 2 (http://www.revleft.com/vb/trotskyist-analysis-cultural-t123026/index.html)
Sino-Soviet Relations, 1945-1961 (http://www.revleft.com/vb/sino-soviet-relations-t120896/index.html)
The Class Nature of the Chinese Revolution (http://www.revleft.com/vb/class-nature-chinese-t120269/index.html)

Author: ComradeOm (http://www.revleft.com/vb/member.php?u=10834)

The Russian Revolution (Bolshevik) (http://www.revleft.com/vb/russian-revolution-bolshevik-t105660/index.html?t=105660)

Author: Random Precision (http://www.revleft.com/vb/member.php?u=14309)

The Roots of Early Zionist Ideology (http://www.revleft.com/vb/roots-zionist-ideology-t120157/index.html)
The Roots of British Interest in Palestine (http://www.revleft.com/vb/roots-british-interest-t117803/index.html)
Religion and the Nine Years' War in Ireland (http://www.revleft.com/vb/catholicism-protestantism-and-t107901/index.html?t=107901)
Anarchists and Workers' Self-Management in Catalonia (http://www.revleft.com/vb/working-class-saddle-t104674/index.html?t=104674)

[ellipsis]

How does one submit papers to add to the list?

[Random Precision]

Just post it in this forum or in Articles

[bcbm]

historical antifascism and the need for continued resistance (http://www.revleft.com/vb/showpost.php?p=673338&postcount=1)

[ellipsis]

I'll have to post my paper on the FMLN and FSLN when I get on my home computer.

[ComradeRed22'91]

So only history students can submit essays? How hierarchal. haha, jk. :lol:

[COMPLEXproductions]

My midterm

Short Definitions:

1) The Sykes-Picot Agreement:

Established in May 1916 by Francois Georges Picot and Sir Mark Sykes, the Sykes-Picot Agreement mandated which previously Ottoman territories France and Britain would each, both directly and indirectly, control; influence. This agreement would be viewed as having many contradictions, and being particularly controversial for going against the British promise given to Sharif Hussein of an Arab State, which was to stretch from Egypt to Persia. The problem was that Britain also made promises (soon to become the Balfour Declaration) to establish a Jewish state in Palestine, but to do that, Britain must maintain control of Palestine. This, however, would violate the terms set with Hussein.

2) Balfour Declaration:

The Balfour Declaration was a pro-Zionist promise made by (a very British) Lord Arthur Balfour in April 1917 to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine. This decision was made for several reasons, among them because of British fear that Germany would soon show open support of Zionism and gain sympathy from the American Jewish populace. All around, it would be favorable for Britain to support the Zionist movement, except that Britain had also (, as previously mentioned,) promised this territory to the Arab leader Sharif Hussein in exchange for turning against the already weakened Ottoman Empire. The presence of Britain in the area not only went against their promise to Hussein, but also to France, for it would push France out of the Suez Canal.

3) Zionism:

Zionism is a political movement whose sole purpose is to establish a Jewish State in the land of Israel. Zionism grew into a major political force in response to antiSemitism, and the Zionist belief is that the only way to end antiSemitism is to concentrate as many Jews into Palestine as possible. This movement was widely supported due to the pogroms (public anti-Jewish murders and riots) in Russia and the Jewish genocide in Europe by Nazi hands. The Zionist movement was formally established by journalist Theodor Herzl in the late nineteenth century. The goals of Zionism were officially recognized and the state of Israel was established in May 1948.
Mandates:
In the words of the League of Nations, mandates “were inhabited by peoples not yet able to stand by themselves under the strenuous conditions of the Modern World.” (In my words,) Mandates were the immediate result of the Sykes-Picot agreement(1916), which divided the Ottoman Empire among France and Britain, and were justified by the infantilization of the Middle East. Mandates were territories divided by and under the control of either France or Britain. The League of Nations decreed that these mandates be under the control of the more advanced nations until they were able to sustain themselves. Mandates differed from previous imperialistic occupations in that the imperial nations were to leave once these mandates were able to support themselves.

4) 1967 War/June War/Six-Day War:

The June War was a war that took place in June 1967 between Israel and the neighboring countries: Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. Along with the Suez Crisis, in 1965 there was a dispute for the water flowing through the Banias Stream which would help spark the June War. Jordan and Syria established the Headwater Diversion Plan to redirect the flow of the Banias Stream from Israel to a dam built in Mukhaiba for their use. Israel reacted by attacking the Syrian posts there. On top of this, there were guerilla attacks on Israel on the Israel-Jordan border supported by Syria that began in 1965. After the Suez Crisis, the League of Nations had established a presence on the borders of the conflicting nations. Egypt, however rejected the L.O.N. and instead set up a strong military presence on the border, causing Israel to believe that Egypt was plotting to attack. These along with many other factors helped ignite the June War in which Israel launched an aggressive and extremely successful attack on it’s enemies, completely obliterating all opposition.

Short Essays:

2) Aftermath of World War One
After World War One, the Sikes-Picot agreement divided the Ottoman Empire into British and French mandates. Some countries ended and new ones began. The people realized that what was going on was not good and resorted to either going back to older mentalities or looking forward into the mind of tomorrow. Progression would naturally seem the best option, the problem was that those that looked forward did so believing and seeing the western ideals as more “modern,” as if there were only one way to progress: the European way. I believe that this is what is and has been tearing at the middle east. Those that looked at the past, would never progress, but they refuse to “modernize” because they see it as synonymous with “European,” which they would naturally distrust. Both have their reasons and degrees of truth, but the way they perceive these things is tainted and does not allow progression and only leaves room for war and conflict. Needless to say, “coincidentally,” certain European countries have always tasted the fruit of this hardship.

3) The rise of Israel
The establishing of Israel is one controversy that began to gain momentum at the end of the 1800s. Anti-Semitism worked much in the same way that immigration does today. Jews began to gain rights in Europe, being able to work and own land, in the 1800s. At the same time, European economies were crashing. Germany for example had many divided states with no unified currency or law and regulation. It was only with Prussia’s expansion after having defeated Austria did Germany gain any stability at the turn of the century. In result, its industries began to even rival Britain’s, which led to the Ottoman desire for a German alliance. However, during the earlier times of despair, Germany blamed its failing economy and struggles on the Jews, and Germany would later lead the way to fuel the Zionist position with the holocaust. Britain promised Palestine to Sharif Hussein in exchange for helping them defeat the Ottoman empire, but after the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the desired land of Palestine became a British mandate. Soon after, it was promised to the Jews in the Balfour Declaration, which contradicted Britain’s previous commitments. Britain and the United States continued to support Jews until Italy entered World War Two. The White Paper came about limiting the level of Jewish immigration to Palestine. By the end of the war however, it was business as usual. The tension between Jews and Arabs peaked before and after the early declaration of Israel in 1948 with the Palestinian Civil War and the Arab-Israeli War. Israel exists today with the continued support of the United States, which uses Israel as a guard dog in the middle east: a great strategic tool.


Long Essay:
Towards the 1900s, the Ottoman countries began to develop nationalism and a craving for independence because they were losing their faith in the empire. Muhammad Ali Pasha began a campaign to create industries using Europe as a model example. Britain and the Ottoman Empire became chums in the 1800s, but when Britain became unreliable, the Ottomans sought after a new ally. The United States was the first candidate, but was too far away. However, the German economy was seeing a dramatic, positive change, for when Prussia defeated Austria(1866), Prussia set up a north German leadership under Prussian Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. German industry developed faster and far greater than anyone expected. Germany became the largest industrial force by the 1900s. The Ottoman Empire and Germany were both attempting to compete with Britain.
When Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to Austria, was assassinated by Serbian militants tired of the Austro-hungarian forces, Austro-hungary asked for the backing of industrialized Germany before declaring war on Serbia. Russia entered the war to defend Serbia. France entered the war because it was in alliance with Russia. Germany attacked France through Belgium and that is when Britain joined the war. The Ottoman Empire joined the Central Powers due to German pressure and preexisting friction with Britain. The Ottoman Empire was already on the verge of collapsing. So the fall of the empire was not a surprise and merely a matter of time.
After the war, the Ottoman Empire was divided into mandates controlled by France and Britain. European manipulation was already taking a toll on the middle east during Ottoman rule, and nationalism was creating a sense of difference amongst the countries. Now separate, there is less stopping the people of these lands from seeing who is really in control. Britain and France influenced the rulers and hand picked presidents and kings to reach their goals and fit their agenda. The United Nations accepted this by stating that the countries were not fit to rule themselves and needed assistance from these far more “developed” countries.

[ellipsis]

Zionism is a political movement whose sole purpose is to establish a Jewish State in the land of Israel.

this is not true, zionism attempts to establish some form of jewish homeland somewhere.

[Sinister Intents]

Does this have to be college?

[Veovis]

I wrote an undergrad thesis about the Spanish republican government in exile, but it's not really from a leftist perspective, and it's in Spanish. :huh:

[Leninator]

can it be essays written by high school students(as I am one)? Does it matter?

[PhoenixAsh]

can it be essays written by high school students(as I am one)? Does it matter?

Yes...it can

and

No...it doesn't

[bluemangroup]

I'm working on a research paper for one of my university classes that when finished will range from 10-15 pages in length.

I'll most likely post it in the history section (after it is graded, of course); I hope to generate discussion from it.

I've been working my butt off to write it (a lot of note taking, followed by a lot of writing)

[Ceallach_the_Witch]

I'm writing my dissertation on revolutionary politics and ideologies in the English Civil War (and i'll hopefully have space to touch on the wider diaspora of various kinds of radical groups across the nascent British Empire) so fingers crossed that might be worth posting here at some point next year - though obviously I'll have to wait until after it's assessed and marked.

[bluemangroup]

I'm writing my dissertation on revolutionary politics and ideologies in the English Civil War (and i'll hopefully have space to touch on the wider diaspora of various kinds of radical groups across the nascent British Empire) so fingers crossed that might be worth posting here at some point next year - though obviously I'll have to wait until after it's assessed and marked.

Sounds fascinating, but can't say that I'm an expert on the English Civil War.

My research paper is on postwar Germany (east and west) in relation to Jews after the Holocaust.

[Danjo]

Hi! First post with my new account. Been meaning to make one for a while, and this is my chance as I have something to finally share.

I wrote a historiography paper on Richard Nixon's visit to China in 1972. It's about 13 pages long. I only have the rough draft, so forgive me for any spelling mistakes.

pastebin.com/nkeaQ2j1

Next year I'll be doing my own independent research on the movement patterns of Mormons in 19th century New England.




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