Spanish Post-Civil War: Resistance & Economic Hardship
Post-Civil War Spain: Resistance and Economic Hardship
International Blockade
The international community largely rejected Franco’s dictatorship. The newly formed United Nations refused Spain’s admission. The Allies’ victory posed a threat to Franco’s regime, and the UN recommended the withdrawal of ambassadors in 1946. While exiled opposition forces anticipated the regime’s downfall, Franco doubled down on autarky and repression, portraying the international boycott as a conspiracy.
Autarky and
Read MoreSpanish Liberal Revolution and the Constitution of 1812
The Liberal Revolution and the Constitution of 1812
Simultaneously with the War of Independence, a liberal revolution unfolded, aiming to dismantle the foundations of the Ancien Régime in Spain. This revolution began with the establishment of the Cortes of Cadiz.
1. Cortes of Cadiz (1808-1814)
In the absence of Fernando VII, provincial boards established the Supreme Central Junta to coordinate efforts against French occupation. This Junta called for a national parliament, the Cortes of Cadiz. Elections
Read MoreSpain’s Restoration & 20th Century Turmoil: A Concise History
The Restoration (1875-1898)
In 1855, during the Progressive Biennium, the Central Board of Directors of the working class was created, leading to the success of the first general strike in Catalonia in July 1855. Workers demanded stable working hours, a joint board of owners and workers to discuss industrial disputes, and the limitation of dismissals. In 1864, the International Association of Workers (AIT) was founded in London, aiming for the economic and social emancipation of the working class
Read MoreNew Plant Decrees of Philip V: Centralization and Aftermath
New Plant Orders in Madrid (1715)
Philip V and the War of Succession
The text discusses the New Plant Orders decreed in Madrid in 1715 by Philip V, the first Bourbon king of Spain. Appointed heir by Charles II, whose childlessness sparked the War of Spanish Succession, Philip V centralized power, revoking the self-governing privileges of Aragon, which had opposed him in favor of Charles.
The Aragonese kingdom was punished for not supporting the war. Initially, Philip V named his son Louis I as successor,
Read MoreRussian Revolution: From Tsars to Soviets and Stalin’s Era
Russian Revolution
In the early twentieth century, Russia was torn apart by deep tensions. These stemmed mainly from the autocratic rule of Tsar Nicholas II, the plight of landless peasants and industrial workers living in harsh conditions, and the existence of a wealthy minority of aristocrats, landowners, and industrialists.
In 1905, social unrest forced the Tsar to concede some power to a parliament, the Duma, and undertake some political and social reforms. However, he continued to reign with
Read MoreReign of Alfonso XIII: Modernization, Crisis, and Dictatorship
ITEM 16: Reign of Alfonso XIII
1 – Introduction
In the early twentieth century, the shock of the disaster of ’98 forced the dynastic parties (Conservatives and Liberals) to initiate political reform. However, Spanish society was entering a period of progressive economic development and social modernization, conditioned by urbanization, the rise of the middle classes, the emergence of mass media, and the prominence of intellectuals. The impact of World War I exacerbated political and social problems.
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