Spain’s Bourbon Dynasty & 19th Century: A Deep Dive
Sexenio Democrático (1868-1874)
Juan Prim and General Serrano organized the Revolution of 1868, known as the Glorious Revolution. Isabel II went into exile in France, and the Revolutionary Sexenio began.
The Democratic Monarchy Under Amadeo I
The Constitution of 1869 established a democratic monarchy, but the parliament did not want a Bourbon monarch. They selected Amadeo of Savoy, an Italian candidate supported by Prim. His short reign was marked by great instability. Prim was assassinated in a terrorist
Spanish Habsburgs: Monarchy, Society & Religion
The Spanish Habsburgs: Monarchy and Society
King Philip II declared bankruptcy more than three times.
16th-Century Society
16th-century society was still dominated by the aristocratic privilegiados. Although some groups were displaced from the most important political positions, they held other relevant positions. The essential privilege of the nobility was fiscal exemption. Another privileged group was the high clergy, who worked with the state indirectly through the payment of tithes.
Reform and Counter-
Read MoreFranco’s Spain: Regime, Economy, and Opposition
The Imposition of Franco’s Regime
Following the victory by arms, the regime imposed repression and treatment of possible opponents. It relied on the support of families, the military, Falangists, the church, and monarchists. The population was depleted after the war.
Settlement of the Scheme
The regime used many elements to maintain support, including the ideology of the Spanish Falange, fascist principles and symbols, traditionalism, militarism, and nationalism. The lack of incorporation was substituted
Read MoreNapoleon: Rise, Fall, and Legacy in Europe
Napoleon’s France
At the beginning of the Consulate, Napoleon was in a power struggle between two consuls (a triumvirate), but in 1802, he was declared sole consul for life. Napoleon acted to repress popular protests, Jacobinism, and democratic trends. He integrated the royalists into the scheme with measures like the return of emigrants. Napoleon gradually accumulated power in his hands until he was crowned emperor in 1804. He oversaw the creation of new institutions and a series of reforms to consolidate
Read MoreFranco’s Spain: Transformation and Consolidation
Regime Transformation: Consolidating Business and Society
The shift from autarky to developmentalism brought about significant social changes.
Political Maneuvering and Institutionalization
The confrontation between different factions became untenable when the Falange sought to solidify its role in the regime. The Caudillo’s approval of laws aimed at fixating its ideology met with opposition from ecclesiastical and monarchical elements. In February 1957, a cabinet reshuffle, influenced by Opus Dei,
Read MoreKey Events & Figures Leading to World War II
Key Events and Figures Leading to World War II
- Kristallnacht: A night of Nazi attacks on Jewish businesses and synagogues that signaled a rising anti-Semitism in Germany.
- Atlantic Charter: US-British agreement of August 1941 that promoted democracy and called for the establishment of a new international organization for peace.
- Appeasement: The British-French policy of attempting to prevent war by granting Germany’s demands.
- America First Committee: The leading isolationist group calling for non-intervention