Spain’s Second Republic: A History (1931-1936)
The Second Republic
The proclamation of the Second Republic marked the end of the deteriorating monarchy of Alfonso XIII. After the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera, the king intended to return to the arrangements established by the Constitution of 1876. Given the increasing turmoil, the Prime Minister, Juan Bautista Aznar, called municipal elections for April 12, 1931, giving them the character of a plebiscite for or against the monarchy. Although the predominant rural councilors were monarchist
Read MoreMay 1968: Student Protests and Social Change in France
May 1968: A Turning Point in French History
1. Defining May 1968 and Its Key Participants
May 1968 refers to a chain of events that occurred in France, particularly in Paris, during May and June 1968. It resulted from the convergence of protests among college and secondary school students and the labor movement. It was a youth-led movement.
2. The Vietnam War and U.S. Imperialism
In February 1962, a demonstration organized by the French Communist Party and the General Labor Confederation ended with
Read MoreSpanish Colonization of America: Administration and Economic Impact
**Section 7.3: Government and Administration of Spanish Colonies in America**
The discovery and colonization of America transformed the Spanish monarchy into a major economic and colonial power. Spain sought to maximize its benefits from these lands through the following measures:
- Systematic exploitation of American mines, especially the silver mines of Potosi (Peru) and Zacatecas (Mexico). The Crown obtained 20% of the production as a tax, known as the “royal fifth,” which was one of its main sources
Spanish Civil War: A Deep Dive into the 1936-1939 Conflict
Item 16 – Civil War (1936-1939)
Introduction
The Civil War was the result of political radicalization during the Second Republic and the ideological confrontation that arose in Europe by the rise of fascism. This war began as a coup by a section of the army against the Republic that failed but was not crushed. This fact and the international influence helped turn it into a long three-year Civil War. Franco, in turn, raised it as a war of attrition and annihilation of the political enemy and, in the
Read MoreEconomic Fluctuations and the Rise of Protectionism in the 19th Century
The **Great Depression** and a Return to Protectionism
Another consequence of international economic integration was the synchronization of price movements. In the preindustrial economy, price fluctuations were due to local issues affecting crops. However, with increasing industrialization and the international market, fluctuations began to relate more to the state of trade and fluctuations in demand. These became cyclical, spreading from country to country through trade channels.
The complex interactions
Read MoreFranco’s Regime: Power, Laws, and State Structure
Concentration of Power Under Franco
General Mola, the main organizer of the 1936 rebellion, initially aimed to establish a temporary military dictatorship. However, Franco created a new state as a “regenerator of Spain,” rejecting liberalism, liberal democracy, communism, and any separatist tendencies. His regime was based on Catholicism and was supported by the military, the Church, the Civil Guard, the Spanish Falange, landowners, and large business owners.
Franco’s rule began on September 29, 1936,
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