Spain’s Second Republic: From Monarchy to Civil War
The Fall of Alfonso XIII and the Second Republic
In 1930, Alfonso XIII’s system attempted to restore the constitutional order of the Restoration, but the monarchy was so discredited that republican groups began to unite to overthrow the king. They were joined by prominent intellectuals such as Miguel de Unamuno, José Ortega y Gasset, and Gregorio Marañón. Partisan political groups supporting the republic signed an agreement in 1930 (the Pact of San Sebastián), committing themselves to establishing
Read MoreSpain’s Regency Era: Maria Cristina & Espartero (1833-1843)
The Spanish Regencies: Maria Cristina & Espartero (1833-1843)
Maria Cristina’s Regency (1833-1840)
Fernando VII died on September 29, 1833, and his widow, Maria Cristina, assumed the regency. This period solidified the division within liberalism into two main streams: Moderate Liberals, who sought a balance between absolutism and popular sovereignty, and Progressive Liberals, who advocated for the principles of the Cortes of Cadiz and comprehensive social and political reform.
The Royal Statute
Read MoreThe 1929 Economic Collapse and the Rise of Totalitarian Regimes
The 1929 Economic Collapse: Causes and Consequences
Causes of the 1929 Economic Crisis
Between 1914 and 1918, during World War I, European industrial production shifted to wartime efforts, while countries like the U.S., Spain, and Argentina significantly increased their industrial output to supply Europe. After the war, the U.S., now a major industrial power, began lending money to Europe. Domestically, new financial products like credit cards and installment plans became popular, enabling people
Read MoreThe Great Depression: Causes, Global Impact, and Responses
The Economic Crisis of 1929: The Great Depression
Causes of the Great Depression
Economic Crisis in European Countries
- The destruction caused by World War I.
- Debts owed to the United States.
- The U.S. banking system withdrew sums of money granted to European countries, especially Germany, to pay their debts.
- European countries lost their ability to sell industrial products to those countries which had hitherto supplied them raw materials, as these countries industrialized during World War I.
Crisis in Agriculture
Mainly
Roman Military Might: Organization, Armament, and Strategy
The Roman Army
The Romans, skilled in peacetime organization, demonstrated equal prowess in times of war. Their quest for expansion and conquest typically involved conflicts, both internal and external. The Romans were well-prepared for war and maintained highly organized armies.
Organization of the Roman Army
From the second century BC, the army became permanent, and its commanders professionalized.
Composition
- The highest tactical unit of the Roman army was the legion (approximately 6,000 men).
- Each
Key Historical Terms of Spain: From Absolutism to the Civil War
Decretos de Nueva Planta
A set of centralizing administrative and legal policies or laws issued by King Philip V between 1711 and 1716. These decrees abolished the privileges of self-governing institutions of the Crown of Aragon (comprising the territories of Aragon, Catalonia, Valencia, and the Balearic Islands) and implemented a centralized system and the absolute power of the king.
The Enlightenment
A cultural and ideological movement that developed in the 18th century (also known as the Age of
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