Franco’s Spain: Dictatorship, Isolation, and Opposition
From 1939 to 1975, Spain lived under an authoritarian regime, a personal dictatorship embodied by General Franco, who maintained a tight grip on Spanish society. Franco relied on different social sectors that made up the ruling bloc: Falange, monarchists, and the military.
Stages of the Franco Regime
Stage of the Second World War (1939-1945)
When the world conflict triggered, Spain remained neutral, although its strategic position was of great importance for both sides. Franco knew the country was
Read MoreKey Events in Spain’s Transition to Democracy After Franco
Key Events in Spain’s Transition to Democracy
Vatican II: I personally think this was key to the progress of the forces that opposed Franco and sought continuity of the dictatorship. With the council, the church in Spain, which had hitherto given full support to the conservative side and Franco, started since then to support the opposition of the regime. This gave less power to the dictatorship and great support to the opposition through demonstrations of workers and students, and clandestine meetings
Read MoreThe League of Nations and World War I: Causes and Conflicts
League of Nations: a) Objectives: Ensure international peace and security through the prevention and peaceful resolution of conflicts, promote general and disarmament, and foster international relations. b) Functioning: Geneva (Switzerland). Bodies: Assembly: Composed of representatives from all member states. Council: A permanent body formed by major powers’ representatives. Secretariat: Presided by the Secretary-General. Associated organizations: Permanent International Court of Justice, and another
Read MoreFrench Revolution: Key Terms and Definitions
Key Terms of the French Revolution
- Absolute Monarchy: A system of government in which the King or Queen has all the power.
- Ancien Régime: The social and political system in France between the 15th and the late 18th centuries, and similar systems in other parts of Europe during this time.
- Enlightenment: An 18th-century intellectual movement that believed in reason, science, and knowledge, and proposed a new, more liberal way of organizing society.
- Manorialism: A medieval system of organizing the economy,
Final Exam Preparation: Key Concepts and Topics
Your final exam will consist of 50 multiple-choice questions, 5 short answer/identification questions, and one long essay. You will have choices among the questions. You may prepare a 3×5” card to bring to the final, which you can use for the long essay question ONLY.
Terms/Concepts from Lectures and Class Discussions
Economic Means/Models of Economic Management
Understand the economic spectrum, including the extremes, and various economic models. Be familiar with aggregate and distributive aims.
Read MoreFrench Revolution: Causes, Stages, and Legacy
French Revolution: Causes
The French Revolution, starting in 1789, was precipitated by a combination of economic and social crises. The French monarchy faced a severe financial crisis, exacerbated by court costs and expenses from supporting the independence of the United States. Crop failures led to rising prices and widespread popular discontent. The bourgeoisie, a wealthy but politically marginalized class, embraced Enlightenment ideals and sought greater political influence.
Proposed Solution
A
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