Francoist Spain: Key Terms and Concepts
Key Terms of Francoist Spain
Franco’s Titles and Roles
Generalissimo of the Armies: Title received during the Franco dictatorship, signifying supreme command of the army.
Leader: Title signifying his role as the guide of the people and crowned as maximum leader.
Political and Social Structures
Falange: The only political party allowed during the Franco dictatorship, created by Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera. An extreme right-wing party.
Blue Division: Spanish volunteer unit that served on the German
Spain’s Agrarian Problem and the Second Republic
The Agrarian Problem in Spain: Text Commentary
The author of this text is Manuel Azaña, who was elected Prime Minister by Niceto Alcalá Zamora, President of the Republic, after the period of provisional government following the introduction of the new regime and the beginning of the Reformist Biennium (1931-1933). During the Popular Front government (1936), when Alcalá Zamora lost parliamentary support, Azaña replaced him as President, naming Casares Quiroga as Prime Minister.
The text was written
Read MoreSpain 1909-1923: Tragic Week, Crisis, and Dictatorship
The Tragic Week and its Aftermath in Spain (1909)
The Spanish colony in Northern Morocco faced numerous challenges. Following the defeat at the Barranco del Lobo by Berber forces, the Spanish government decided to reinforce its troops by calling up reservists. These reservists were concentrated in Barcelona, awaiting deployment.
Republicans, socialists, and anarchists strongly opposed this military campaign. They viewed it as an imperialist war, believing that the conscription system disproportionately
Read MoreLiberalism, Conservatism, and Carlist Wars in Spain
Liberalism and Conservatism in Spain (1834-1874)
From 1833 to 1874, three events of great importance occurred in Spain. These related events were:
- The introduction of the parliamentary constitutional liberal state and the final disappearance of the Old Regime’s political system.
- The emergence of Carlism, representing resistance, by force of arms, to any political change.
- The start of the development of capitalism in Spain, and the completion of the disentailment process.
The death of King Ferdinand VII
Read MoreAmadeus of Savoy’s Reign in Spain: A Brief, Turbulent Era
The Reign of Amadeus of Savoy (1871-1873)
Amadeus of Savoy landed in Cartagena on December 30, 1870, where he received the news of the assassination of General Prim, which had occurred three days earlier. On January 2, 1871, he was proclaimed king in Madrid.
The reign of Amadeus I was ultimately a failure. His two-year reign was marked by continuous political instability, fueled by:
- Opposition from the nobility.
- Rejection by the Church.
- Alienation of sectors of economic power.
- A general Carlist uprising.
Cádiz Cortes: Liberal Revolution and Constitution of 1812
The Cortes of Cádiz: A Revolution in Liberalism. The Supreme Central Board acted as the provisional government until 1810 and was dissolved due to internal problems and inefficiencies caused by its smear against the invaders. Instead, the more conservative members were able to appoint a Board of Regencia. This Board was that finally brought a Cortes in Cadiz. The first problem to solve was how to convene the Cortes: for separate estates, as in the ancien regime, or a single chamber to represent