Fascism, Nazism, and Hitler’s Rise to Dictatorship
Core Tenets of Fascism
Fascism, an ultra-nationalist, illiberal, and undemocratic movement, emerged in Italy after the First World War. The term originates from the political organization founded by Benito Mussolini in 1919: The Italian Fasci di Combattimento, whose members were known as Blackshirts. Fascist movements later appeared not only in Germany but also in Spain, Poland, Austria, the United States, and other countries.
General Characteristics:
- Radical nationalism evolving into imperialism,
Spain’s Democratic Sexenio: Revolution & Change (1868-1874)
The historical period 1868-1874 is known as the Democratic Sexenio because, for the first time, the ideas of universal suffrage and social rights appeared in Spanish political life. It has also received the adjective “Revolutionary” because, during these six years, the country experienced a turbulent period of political changes, social movements, armed conflict, and failed attempts at solutions.
In this short span of time, numerous political changes occurred, including frequent changes in government,
Read MoreSpain’s Restoration Era: Politics, Society, and Crisis
Electoral System and Turnismo
Elections were manipulated to ensure a majority for the governing party through the influence of local bosses (caciques), who controlled voters directly through pressure or various forms of vote-buying. If this failed, they resorted to electoral fraud (pucherazo), manipulating results by falsifying vote counts, swapping ballot boxes, and employing other fraudulent methods to ensure the government’s preferred candidate won. This system persisted for several reasons:
- Widespread
Spain’s 1936 Election: Popular Front Victory & Road to War
The Triumph of the Popular Front
The harsh repression against leftists during the Two Black Years led to the unification of forces against the conservative government. In the elections of February 16, 1936, two clearly antagonistic blocs formed: the right and the left.
The February 1936 Elections
To contest the election, the leftist parties (Republicans, Socialists, and Communists) grouped together in the Popular Front. This electoral coalition was based on a common agenda advocating amnesty for those
Read MoreSpain in the 18th Century: Carlos III & Foreign Policy
Carlos III: Enlightened Despotism in Spain (1759-1788)
Carlos III (1759-1788), brother of Fernando VI and son of Felipe V and Elizabeth Farnese, had been King of Naples before being proclaimed King of Spain. Like many other European absolute monarchs, he adopted the idea of enlightened despotism. All power was concentrated in the king’s person, and he did not want to end the Old Regime. However, he wished for the welfare of his people, so his efforts were directed to encourage progress and rationality
Read MoreLabor Movements & World War I Origins in Spain
7th Labor Movement: Anarchism and Marxism
Industrial society disadvantaged those who could not access property and had to exchange labor for a wage. The industrial or agricultural proletariat found a vehicle for expression in trade unions and new social ideas.
7.1 The Beginnings of Unionism
The limited Spanish industrialization meant a relatively small number of workers. In the mid-nineteenth century, there were approximately 150,000 workers, with 100,000 in the Catalan textile industry.
The earliest
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