Spain’s Restoration Era: Politics, Problems, and Dictatorship
The Political System of the Restoration
The political system was based on two pillars: the Constitution of 1876 and the turnismo, the peaceful alternation in power of the two main political parties: the Conservative Party, led by Antonio Canovas del Castillo and heir to the Moderates, and the Liberal Party, headed by Práxedes Mateo Sagasta and heir to the Progressives.
The Constitution of 1876
The Constitution of 1876 was moderate but flexible enough to allow the parties to govern without major changes.
Read MoreFranco’s Regime: Authoritarianism and National Catholicism in Spain
Franco’s Regime in Spain (1939-1975)
The Franco regime was an authoritarian and dictatorial political force in Spain between 1939 and 1975. The ideology that underpinned the leadership of General Francisco Franco Bahamonde was born with the military victory in the Spanish Civil War. Their power base was in control of all levers of government: chief of state, government, single party, the National Movement, and the Army. Franco’s courts did not have legislative initiative, concentrating executive
Read MoreIndustrialization: Enterprises, States, and Welfare State Origins
Industrialization: Enterprises and States
Industrialization changed the world:
- Prosperous capitalism in EU and USA
- Poverty in the global south
- Subsistence in Asia and Africa
1850-1929: No restrictions on the mobility of people (passports were not needed).
Second Industrial Revolution (SIR)
The SIR was characterized by:
- The new mass production techniques, systematic application of science to the industry, the rise of chemical, steel, railroad, and other new capital-intensive lead industries.
- This was a time
Colonialism’s Legacy: Ireland, Nigeria, India, and Jamaica
The Enduring Impact of Colonialism: A Comparative Analysis
Northern Ireland
In the 12th century, English control intensified in Ireland. The Ulster Plantation (1610) settled Protestant English and Scottish populations in Northern Ireland, displacing native Catholic Irish and creating a divided society due to religious and political differences. The Act of Union (1801) united Ireland and Great Britain into the UK, but marginalized Irish Catholics politically, socially, and economically, deepening colonial
Read MoreUGT-CNT Manifesto: A Call for Proletariat Rights in 1917 Spain
UGT-CNT Assembly Manifesto (1917)
This manifesto, a protest with economic and primarily social content, was drafted in Madrid on March 28, 1917, jointly by the General Union of Workers (UGT) and the National Confederation of Workers (CNT). Despite their sociological differences, they united with the intention of achieving the widest possible distribution. The UGT, with its socialist ideology, was mainly based in Madrid, the Basque Country, and Asturias, while the CNT, with its anarchist ideology,
Read MoreLatin America’s Resistance to U.S. Imperialism
Sandino’s Resistance
In 1926, armed resistance emerged, led by Sandino, who began recruiting companions to combat conservatism in Latin America. His influence transcended borders. U.S. forces bombarded villages where Sandino’s presence symbolized determination. A stand was taken in 1927 from the San Albino mine, and in 1931, after the U.S. government announced its intention to withdraw from Nicaragua, the Sandinistas destroyed the United Fruit Company’s premises. News of the killings and devastation
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