Spain’s Colonial Decline: 1898 Crisis and Moroccan War
Item 13. The Fall of the Spanish Colonial Empire and the 1898 Crisis
At the end of the 19th century, although most territories in Africa, Asia, and Oceania were already occupied, great powers aspired to new colonies. One way to achieve this was by taking remnants of former empires from old powers like Spain and Portugal.
The Cuban Problem and the War with the U.S.
In 1895, independence movements erupted in Cuba and the Philippines, two Spanish colonies. The U.S. aided the Cuban rebels, but their aim
Read MoreCharlemagne to 14th-Century Crisis: Medieval Europe
Lesson 11: The Start of European Civilization
The Age of Charlemagne
The fragmentary state that Europe had been reduced to after the invasion of the Germanic peoples underwent a radical transformation in the late eighth and early ninth centuries. Because of the continuing victories of the Frankish king Charlemagne (768-814) over the surrounding villages, for a moment, people believed he held the coveted dream of restoring the Roman Empire. The illusion might have seemed complete when he received the
Read MoreThe Cadiz Cortes & Spanish War of Independence (1808-1814)
Cortes of Cadiz (1812)
The Supreme Central Board Convenes the Cortes of Cadiz
Meeting in 1810 in Cadiz
The Supreme Central Board, unable to effectively conduct the war, decided to disband. Before this, a Parliament would convene to decide on their fate and organization. While this was being arranged, a regency of five members was established. The country also organized a consultation on the reforms to be undertaken by the Cortes. Despite the difficulty of collecting these responses, the prevailing
Read MoreSpain’s Restoration Era: Monarchy, Politics, and Colonial Loss
The Canovas System: The Constitution of 1876 and the Shift of Parties. The Political Opposition. Regionalism and Nationalism
Factors influencing the return of the Bourbon dynasty to the Spanish throne were the fragility of the First Republic and its inability to resolve wars (colonial, cantonal, and Carlist), the passivity of social opposition to the Restoration due to disenchantment suffered after the Revolution, and the power of social groups favorable to change. These groups included the big bourgeoisie,
Read MoreAnarchism and Socialism in 19th-Century Spain: A Historical Analysis
Anarchism and Socialism in 19th-Century Spain
This is a historical document, specifically a fragment of the Manifesto of the General Commission published in March 1883 and reprinted in A. Fernández García and others’ “Records of History …” in 1996. It is a text of a political, social, and public character.
Anarchist Ideals and Organization
The author begins by explaining the right of anarchists to organize themselves. He then outlines the characteristics of the anarchist movement. Two key features
Read MoreFranco’s Regime in Spain: A Historical Analysis
The Franco Regime
The consequences of the Spanish Civil War were severe. These included a large number of deaths, disappearances, and exiles; repression; forced labor; economic losses; and declines in output in all sectors. Landowners, the army, and the church became hegemonic elements of Francoist society. But the most impactful consequence was the victory of the rebel camp. Franco stood at the head of the country after the war. He obtained absolute power and ruled the country by dictatorship for
Read More