Spain’s Transition to Democracy: Key Players & Pacts
The Spanish Democratic Transition: From Franco to Democracy
1. The Dawn of Democracy: Franco’s Death and the Initial Steps
The death of Francisco Franco marked the beginning of Spain’s transition to democracy. This process aimed to avoid societal collapse and had the support of both the Crown and anti-Francoist sectors.
- Arias Navarro’s Presidency: Juan Carlos de Borbón was appointed King of Spain, legitimized by Franco himself, but with reformist ideals. His first acts included appointing Torcuato
Spain’s Crisis: 1898 Disaster & Dictatorship
The Disaster of 1898 to the End of Alfonso XIII’s Reign
The Crisis of 1898
The main crisis during the Regency of Mª Cristina was the insurrections in Cuba and the Philippines.
The promise of autonomy given to Cuba was not fulfilled. Political issues created strong tension between the colony and the metropolis, which, added to the protectionist economic policy, made Cuba a space reserved for Spanish producers, hampering trade with the U.S., a major buyer of Cuban products in the late nineteenth century.
Read MoreThe 1929 Crisis and the Rise of Fascism in Italy
The 1929 Crisis: Causes and Consequences
Private enterprise, fueled by a philosophy of encouraging consumption and financial speculation, drove the market to a breaking point. On Thursday, October 24, 1929, over 13 million shares went on sale without sufficient demand, causing investor distrust and widespread bankruptcy.
Causes of the 1929 Crisis
The causes were linked to the protectionist measures of the ruling Republican administration:
- The Customs Tariff: Raised tariffs, reducing trade with the United
19th-Century Nationalism & US Expansion
The Birth of Nationalism
In the Middle Ages and the modern nation, the word designating the group of people born in the same place and were under the power of a single monarch. In the 19th century, the term “nation” acquired a political dimension, and many began to claim that state borders should coincide with racial, linguistic, and historical borders. States launched nationalist policies.
The Unifying Movements: Italy and Germany
Nationalist movements led to the union of populations that were divided,
Read More19th and Early 20th Century: Society, Culture, and World War I
Social Changes and Urban Growth
The 19th and early 20th centuries witnessed significant social transformations, largely driven by the growth of cities. Urban centers like Paris, Berlin, and London experienced improvements in infrastructure, including piped drainage, lighting, and transport. A distinct social stratification emerged, with a wealthier bourgeois class inhabiting more affluent areas, while workers often resided in less sanitary conditions.
Environmental Impact and Industrialization
The
Read MoreSpanish Workers’ Strike of 1917: Causes and Demands
The 1917 General Strike in Spain: A UGT-CNT Movement
This text, dated March 27, 1917, originating from the *Correos de Madrid* (Madrid Mail), details a communication regarding an impending general strike by the workers’ movement, specifically a coalition of the Unión General de Trabajadores (UGT) and the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (CNT). It focuses on government and central administration workers. The core message is the announcement of a general strike, reflecting shared economic and social
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