Amadeus 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
Understanding the French Revolution and Napoleonic Period
The Impact of Enlightenment and American Revolution
The Enlightenment and the American Revolution gave the bourgeoisie new ideas to confront absolutism and the stratified estate system. They proposed new forms of social organization and government.
Social and Economic Crisis
In the late 18th century, the Third Estate aspired to profound social reforms. The peasants opposed the heavy taxes and rents imposed by the feudal lords. The bourgeoisie wanted to end the privileges enjoyed by the nobility and
Read MoreFranco’s Spain: Political System, Ideology, and Laws (1939-1959)
Francoism in Spain (1939-1959)
1. Franco’s Political System
General Franco, leader of the Nationalist forces, headed the authoritarian regime “by the Grace of God” until 1975. Franco was:
- Head of armed forces.
- Head of state and head of government.
- Ultimate source of legitimate authority.
- He had the power to appoint and dismiss ministers.
Franco saw himself as the one designated to save Spain from chaos and instability.
He blamed democracy for destroying the unity of Spain.
2. Political and Ideological Foundations
Read More16th Century Spain: Habsburg Political Model & Kingdom Union
16th Century Spain: The Habsburg Political Model
The Habsburg Austrians continued and developed the political legacy of the Catholic Kings, creating a more professionalized administration. Inherited institutions became a more complex bureaucracy. They sought to surround themselves with lawyers and civil law experts from modest backgrounds. Thus, the aristocracy was distanced from the power of the Court, which finally settled in Madrid in a stable manner from Felipe II (1561), allowing political power
Read MoreWorld War II: Causes, Consequences, and Peace Efforts
Causes of World War II
After the Treaty of Versailles, Germany felt humiliated, and Italy was frustrated by unfulfilled promises from the Allies. Fascist policy was based on changing the pre-1919 situation. France and the UK hesitated to stop Germany in the 1930s. During attempts to consolidate peace, Germany signed the Locarno Pact in 1925, accepting the Versailles borders. Hitler’s rise to power and Japan’s imperialist policies altered the international scene. The League of Nations was unable to
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