Franco’s Spain: A Deep Dive into the Dictatorship (1939-1975)
Franco’s Spain (1939-1975)
Key Aspects of the Franco Regime
1. Franco’s Ideology
Franco’s regime was military, nationalist, conservative, and deeply Catholic, staunchly opposing communism.
2. Core Features of Francoism
Franco’s dictatorship can be summarized by these main points:
- Dictatorship: The 1931 Constitution was repealed, eliminating human rights, free elections, regional autonomy, minority languages (Catalan, Basque, Galician), and the separation of powers. Franco controlled all three branches
Spanish Agrarian Reform Law of 1932: Historical and Statistical Analysis
Spanish Agrarian Reform Law (1932)
Classification
This document analyzes the Spanish Agrarian Reform Law of 1932 from historical, legislative, economic, and social perspectives. It comprises two parts:
- An excerpt from the Basic Law of Agrarian Reform, a public document addressing the entire population, particularly those affected by the law. Published in 1932 during the Second Republic’s Reformist Biennium (under Azaña’s leadership), following the failed Sanjurjo coup. This law was considered a major
Spain’s Liberal Triennium (1820-1823): A Period of Constitutional Rule
Spain’s Liberal Triennium (1820-1823)
Ferdinand VII’s Reign: Three Distinct Periods
The reign of Ferdinand VII is marked by three distinct periods:
- Six years of absolutism (1814-1820), from his return from France until the revolution of 1820.
- The Liberal Triennium (1820-1823), a period of constitutional rule ending with the intervention of the Hundred Thousand Sons of St. Louis.
- The Ominous Decade (1823-1833), a return to absolutism lasting until Ferdinand VII’s death.
Absolutism and the Return of Ferdinand
Read MoreCadiz Courts & The Constitution of 1812: Key Reforms
Cadiz Courts and the Constitution of 1812
1. Las Cortes de Cadiz
The elections during the war led to the assembly of the Cortes on October 24, 1810, with a majority of bourgeois elements from the commercial cities along the coast (only nine nobles and three bishops were present). Two opposing groups soon emerged:
- Liberals: Supporters of revolutionary reforms, inspired by the principles of the French Revolution.
- Absolutists (or “serviles”): In favor of maintaining the Old Regime.
The Liberal majority
Read MoreThe Spanish Civil War: A Global Conflict’s Roots and Results
Civil War: Politics and International Dimensions
The Spanish Civil War began as an internal conflict but soon acquired an international dimension, with several European countries favoring one side or the other. The Spanish War was seen as the beginning of what eventually became World War II. England and the Soviet Union favored the Republic, while Germany and Italy quickly leaned toward the rebels.
However, the delicate situation in Europe led to France’s initiative. On September 9, 1936, the Non-
Read MoreSpanish Civil War: Key Battles, Aftermath, and Franco’s Dictatorship
The Spanish Civil War: A Nation Divided
Between March and July 1938, the Aragón Mediterráneo operation was conducted, marking an advance of Nationalist troops toward the sea and effectively partitioning Republican territory into two unequal parts. In the following months of 1938, the Battle of the Ebro took place.
The Battle of the Ebro proved to be a campaign of attrition against the Republican Army. Their loss cleared the path for the rebel forces to advance into Catalonia, which practically ensured
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