The Catholic Monarchs: Forging a Modern Spanish State
The Catholic Monarchs: Building the Modern State
Dynastic Union: Integration of Castile and Aragon
The marriage of Isabella and Ferdinand II laid the groundwork for the future territorial union of the peninsula. It is considered dynastic because both monarchs came from the same dynasty. The monarchs were referred to by the Pope as the ‘Catholic Monarchs’ due to their actions. The marriage did not immediately unite the kingdoms, as both remained independent until they became rulers. In 1475, the Harmony
Read MoreSpanish Constitution of 1931: Key Features & History
The Constitution of 1931
Elections to the Constituent Cortes were held on June 28, with 4.5 million voters (70% turnout). The election gave a clear victory to a Republican-Socialist coalition, endorsing government action. On July 14, the courts were established, with Julian Besteiro as president. On July 28, confidence in the government was ratified. The Constitution was finally adopted on December 9, 1931. It consists of 125 articles divided into nine titles.
Key Characteristics
- The state is defined
Mendizábal and Madoz Confiscations, 1855 Laws, and 1869 Constitution
Confiscation of Mendizábal: Political Aspects
Two main reasons drove the disentailment process:
- The clergy’s support for the Carlist cause.
- The state’s financial need.
The confiscation was the single most revolutionary measure undertaken by the Liberal government. In the Ancien Régime, certain sectors of society possessed a mass of goods commensurate with their social role. The nobles had their economic assets linked, preventing land division and ensuring transmission to the firstborn. The Church
Read MoreFrench Revolution: Girondins, Jacobins, Directory & Napoleon
Censitary Suffrage and Early French Republic
Censitary suffrage involved voting restricted to citizens, generally those with greater economic power.
The Convention: 1792-1795. Moderate or Radical Republic?
Following elections in 1792, the Assembly was renamed the Convention. The king had been deposed, and France became a republic.
The outcome of the elections resulted in three groups within the Convention:
- Girondins: Conservatives who won a majority in the elections. They were rich burghers of moderate
19th-Century Imperialism: Africa and Asia
The Distribution of the World: 19th-Century Imperialism
Imperialism and Colonialism: There is a big difference between the imperialism of the 16th century and that of the 19th century. While the first wave of imperialism focused on the Americas and involved significant, often peaceful, European emigration, the second wave targeted Asia, Africa, and the Pacific Islands. This later imperialism saw little European emigration, with a small white minority imposing itself on the indigenous majority, and
Read MoreThe Spanish Second Republic: Reforms and Civil War
The Second Republic (1931-1936)
The Second Republic (1931-1936) was a significant stage in the contemporary history of Spain. The Republic attempted to launch a series of reforms; however, its obscure birth in the polls, the antagonism between the affluent and the working classes, and the radicalization of some hindered the development of others. The framework of democratic solutions that the Republic represented failed because it developed in an inappropriate international context and amidst strong
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