The Spanish Civil War: Origins, Factions, and Global Intervention
The 1936 Coup d’État and the Start of the Civil War
The military uprising began on July 17th in Melilla, extending across the Iberian Peninsula on the 18th and 19th. The government, led by Prime Minister Casares Quiroga, reacted slowly and resigned. Diego Martínez Barrio was briefly appointed but resigned due to lack of support. Finally, on July 19th, José Giral formed a new government and made the crucial decision to deliver weapons to civilians. Citizens immediately engaged in the defense of
Read MoreThe Political Regime of Francoism: Structure and Ideology
The Francoist Regime: Core Characteristics
International and Internal Recognition
The regime established by Franco had good relationships with its peers, namely Hitler’s Germany and Mussolini’s Italy. This external support was crucial, leading to Franco’s military victory and subsequent international recognition as a leader, as well as internal recognition as the savior of Spain.
The resistance did not constitute a major nuisance. The middle classes offered passivity, while economic elites and peasants
Read MoreSpanish Civil War (1936-1939): Causes and International Dimensions
The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)
Causes of the Civil War
To explain the Spanish Civil War (SCW), two main theories exist:
- The theory of war as a result of a fascist intervention (Left perspective).
- The theory of war as justification to stop the international communist advance (Right perspective).
However, the SCW was ultimately the result of many complex factors.
The Military Uprising
A group of monarchists and conservatives, supported by other right-wing military figures, prepared a conspiracy following
Read MoreThe Roots and Consequences of Global Imperialism
Motives Driving Global Imperialism
The takeover of a country or territory by a stronger nation with the intention of dominating the political, economic, and social life of the people of that nation is called imperialism. The Industrial Revolution provided European nations with a critical need to acquire new lands for resources, markets, and investment opportunities.
Key Motives for Expansion
Nationalism and Patriotism
A strong sense of national pride grew in European countries. Europeans viewed an empire
Read MoreThe American and French Revolutions: Birth of Modern Democracies
The Independence of the United States
The Thirteen Colonies
The first English settlers arrived in North America in 1607 and established their first colony: Virginia. By the middle of the 18th century, there were already thirteen colonies, often collectively referred to as New England.
The population of North America included approximately 1,300,000 white people of European origin, whose social differences were generally lower than those in Europe, and 350,000 black people, mainly slaves, who worked
Read MoreThe Fall of Franco: Opposition Movements and the End of the Dictatorship (1939–1975)
Opposition to the Franco Regime
Postwar Opposition (1939–1959)
After the war, opposition groups, primarily driven by the PCE (Spanish Communist Party), continued their activities. The Maquis operated between 1944 and 1949, hiding in major mountain ranges. They attempted to incite the population against Franco and even prepared an invasion from France through the Aran Valley, hoping for support from democratic nations. This invasion ultimately failed, and the groups were dismantled by 1949. Political
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