The Second Spanish Republic: Counter-Reformation and Popular Front
The Second Spanish Republic: 1931-1936
On April 14, 1931, the Second Spanish Republic was proclaimed. The Republicans had won the municipal elections in the provincial capitals and major cities. The reason was the deep crisis of the Restoration. The reformist biennium ended with the victory of the right in the elections of 1933. The Counter-Reformation Biennium was marked by a succession of governments with little parliamentary stability, due to their desire to review the reformist biennium reforms
Read MoreRussian Revolution: From Tsarist Rule to Stalin’s Dictatorship
The Russian Revolution: From Tsarist Rule to Stalin’s Dictatorship
Forced to flee, ministers were detained, and with very little bloodshed, the Winter Palace, the former residence of the Tsars converted into the headquarters of the new government, was seized. After the victory, the new government, called the Town Council, made the first decisions on land, labor, and war after the peace of Brest-Litovsk in 1918. The Bolsheviks, led by Lenin and Trotsky, took the name Communist Party and founded the
Read MoreVisigothic and Carolingian Art: Early Medieval Europe
The Visigothic Kingdom
The Western Roman Empire succumbed to barbarian invasions. The Germanic tribes divided the land, becoming the seed of the future states of Europe. The Visigoths arrived in the Iberian Peninsula in the 5th century and established their capital in Toledo. Their kingdom disappeared with the Muslim invasion in 711.
Church of San Juan de Baños, Palencia
This church is the oldest Visigothic monument in Spain. The Visigothic basilica presents the following structure: three naves separated
Read MoreIsabel II Reign: Moderate Decade & Economic Shifts in Spain
Moreda-Decade
After ascending the throne in November 1843, Isabel II showed a preference for the moderates, leaving out the progressives. In May 1844, she formed a cabinet chaired by General Narvaez, the great figure of the moderates. These were the main measures adopted during the next decade:
- 1844: Creation of the Civil Guard.
- 1845: Reform of the council law of the tax system.
- 1846: Election law that sets a real oligarchic regime.
- 1851: Concordat. Agreement with the Holy See whereby the Pope recognized
US & Germany: Post-War History & Political Landscape
United States
The U.S. operates under a federal system where national institutions coexist with the unique characteristics of each state. The executive branch is headed by the President, who serves as both the chief of state and head of government. Legislative power resides in a bicameral Congress, comprising the House of Representatives, with members elected every two years, and the Senate, with two representatives from each state.
The highest judicial body is the U.S. Supreme Court. Harry S. Truman
Read MoreSpain in Crisis: Reign of Alfonso XIII and Social Unrest
Issue 14: Spain During the Reign of Alfonso XIII
The term of Alfonso XIII is separated into two periods:
- The crisis of the Restoration, which ended in 1923.
- The dictatorship of Primo de Rivera, which ended the parliamentary system, dragging the monarchy itself into its failure.
With regard to the international sphere, the reign coincides with an arms race leading to the First World War, which affected the Spanish economy and politics. The disaster of 1898 led to Regenerationism, a movement led by intellectuals
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