A-Level History & Politics Flashcards

What were the main causes of the First World War according to the MAIN acronym?

Answer: Militarism, Alliance systems, Imperialism, Nationalism

The MAIN causes of WWI are: Militarism (arms race), Alliance systems (Triple Entente vs. Triple Alliance), Imperialism (colonial competition), and Nationalism (ethnic tensions and desire for self-determination, especially in the Balkans).

What was the significance of the Russian Revolution of 1917?

Answer: It led to the Bolshevik seizure of power, the end of Tsarist rule, the establishment of the Soviet state, and inspired communist movements worldwide

The February Revolution ended Tsarist rule; the October/Bolshevik Revolution brought Lenin and the Bolsheviks to power. The establishment of the world's first communist state had profound global consequences, inspiring revolutionary movements and shaping 20th-century geopolitics.

What is the doctrine of parliamentary sovereignty in UK politics?

Answer: Parliament is the supreme legal authority in the UK; it can make, amend, or repeal any law, and no other body can override it

Parliamentary sovereignty means Parliament (specifically the House of Commons + Lords + Monarch) is the supreme law-making body in the UK. It can pass any law it wishes. However, this has been modified in practice by EU membership (formerly), devolution, and the Human Rights Act.

What is the 'presidential model' of the UK Prime Minister?

Answer: The argument that modern UK Prime Ministers exercise presidential-style power — dominant, media-focused, with a large personal team — rather than being 'first among equals'

The 'presidentialisation' thesis (Michael Foley) argues that the PM's role has grown increasingly presidential: personal mandates, media dominance (the 'spatial leadership' phenomenon), powerful cabinet office machinery, and foreign policy dominance.

What caused the fall of the Weimar Republic and Hitler's rise to power?

Answer: A combination of the Great Depression, unemployment, political extremism, constitutional weaknesses, and elite miscalculation allowed Hitler to be appointed Chancellor in 1933

Multiple factors contributed: the Great Depression caused mass unemployment (over 6 million by 1932), discrediting mainstream parties; the NSDAP exploited resentment over Versailles and scapegoating; elite conservatives thought they could control Hitler; proportional representation enabled extremist parties.

What is the difference between a unitary and a federal state?

Answer: In a unitary state, sovereignty rests centrally (as in the UK); in a federal state, power is constitutionally divided between central and regional governments (as in the USA)

In a unitary state (e.g., UK), Parliament is sovereign and can devolve or take back powers. In a federal state (e.g., USA, Germany), the constitution divides sovereignty between federal and state levels — states have guaranteed, entrenched powers.