19th Century Spain: Wars, Revolutions, and Constitutions
Causes of Independence
- Diffusion of Enlightenment ideas and principles of freedom and equality promoted by the French Revolution.
- Success of British colonies’ independence, which ended with the creation of the U.S.
- Discontent of the native bourgeoisie, who saw Spain as an obstacle to the American economy.
Carlist War
After the death of Ferdinand VII, his heiress Isabel was 3 years old. To defend the rights of his daughter, Maria Cristina (regent) sought the support of liberals. This initiated a civil
Read MoreSpain in the 19th and 20th Centuries: Key Events
Key Events in Spain During the 19th and 20th Centuries
Spanish afrancesados admired the ideas of the French Enlightenment. They supported Joseph Bonaparte (Jose I) because they believed that with this king, reforms would be implemented.
Important Concepts and Events
- Coup d’état: Aims to obtain political power.
- Wars between liberals and Carlists: A Carlist conflict. Supporters of the latter were opposed to absolutism and the liberal system. The first Carlist war occurred between 1833 and 1839, the second
Venezuelan Politics: 19th & 20th Centuries
Venezuelan Politics: 19th and 20th Centuries
Liberal Party
Founder: Antonio Guzmán Leocadio.
Sectors that supported it: Estate owners, landlords, and ruined warlords left out of government.
Program:
- Breaking the exclusive political group that had taken over the government since 1830.
- Deleting commercial courts because they were those who taught, in a fast way, the execution of the debtors.
Conservative Party
Founder: José Antonio Páez.
Sectors that supported him: Loan sharks, moneylenders, trade monopoly,
Read MoreSilvela, Maura, and Canalejas: Political Turmoil in Early 20th Century Spain
Silvela and Maura (1902-1909)
The government of Silvela faced incompatibility issues addressed by two of his ministers: Polavieja (War) and Vallaverde (Agriculture). This period saw the rise of Antonio Maura within the Conservative Party, determined to initiate a program of internal renewal. This was achieved through a substantial reform of the state. Maura also stated that parties should emerge from the people and connect with their needs through active and effective politics. Maura, as president,
Read MoreSpain’s 1917 Crisis: War, Revolution, and Social Unrest
The Crisis of the Great War in Spain (1917)
The year 1917 saw significant political and social conflicts across Europe, including the Bolshevik Revolution. In Spain, growing awareness of the Restoration political system’s serious difficulties, coupled with military discontent and social conflict, sparked widespread protest.
Military Discontent
The Spanish army, strained by colonial wars, had an excessive number of officers. Moreover, inflation had diminished the real value of the already low military
Read MoreRussian Revolution and Stalinist Era: Key Events and Impacts
The Russian Revolution: A Historical Overview
In the early twentieth century, Russia was ruled by Tsar Nicholas II, an autocrat. The population consisted of landless peasants, industrial workers living in squalor, and aristocrats who owned the land and industries. In 1905, unrest forced the Tsar to concede some power to the Duma and implement social and political reforms. However, by 1915, unease grew due to Russia’s involvement in World War I.
The February Revolution (1917)
By February 1917, Russia