Political Forces of the Second Spanish Republic: Parties & Constitution
The Second Spanish Republic: Political System
The essence of the new political system:
The key elements of the political system of the Second Republic are parties and the Constitution of 1931.
Political Forces
A large number of newly established political parties mobilized huge masses of members and supporters.
A) Fascist Groups:
- JONS (Juntas of the National-Syndicalist Offensive). Emerged in 1931 and led by Ramiro Ledesma Redondo.
- PHALANX. Founded in 1933 by José Antonio Primo de Rivera, son of the dictator,
Charles V and Philip II: Habsburg Dynasty in Spain
Charles V: Emperor of Spain and the Holy Roman Empire
Charles V was born in Ghent (Flanders) in 1500. In 1516, he became King of Spain, known as Charles I of Spain and Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire. He inherited a vast dynasty from both sides of his family.
Territories Inherited by Charles V
- Castile: From Joanna
- Aragon: From Ferdinand II
- Austria: From Maximilian I
- Burgundy: From Mary
The Revolt of the Comuneros
The Revolt of the Comuneros in 1520 was led by the nobles, bourgeoisie, and peasants of
Read MoreSpain’s Post-Civil War Era: International Relations and Economic Recovery
Spain’s International Relations After the Civil War
Franco previously sympathized with the Axis powers (Germany and Italy) and joined the Anti-Comintern Pact (an agreement between Germany, Italy, and Japan). At the outbreak of World War II, Spain declared neutrality. However, after a change in foreign ministers, Serrano Suñer, a fascist advocate, took over, and Spain’s stance shifted to “non-belligerency.”
Hitler and Franco met in Hendaye, where Franco sought military supplies, food, financial resources,
Read MoreJoseph Stalin and Franklin D. Roosevelt: Cold War Figures
Joseph Stalin
After establishing his brutal dictatorship, **Joseph Stalin** launched the USSR into industrialization, regardless of any social costs. Stalin practiced an erratic foreign policy. Since 1928, he prompted a leftist policy called “class against class,” which provoked a pitched battle with European social democracy, greatly facilitating Hitler’s rise to power. Some leaders of the Comintern even celebrated Hitler’s rise to the chancellorship, believing it proved that capitalism had reached
Read MoreUnited States Independence: Causes, Consequences & Key Events
The Independence of the United States
The Independence of the United States marks the liberation of the thirteen colonies in North America from the Kingdom of Great Britain. It began on July 4, 1776, and lasted eight years, with various battles between Great Britain and the North American colonies. In 1783, the Treaty of Paris recognized the thirteen colonies as the independent United States of America.
Causes of the Independence
The process began after the Seven Years’ War, where Great Britain and
Read MoreSpain’s Second Republic: A Time of Change and Division
The Second Spanish Republic (1931-1936)
In 1931, the Second Republic was proclaimed, putting an end to the monarchy of Alfonso XIII. The arrival of the Republic was an attempt to modernize Spain and to establish, for the first time, a truly democratic system.
Reformist Biennium (1931-1933)
The triumph of the left allowed the formation of a coalition government led by the Republican Socialist Manuel Azaña. This government undertook a broad program of progressive reforms:
- Political Reform: The 1931 Constitution