19th Century Labor Movements and Political Ideologies
Early Labor Movement
Workers formed organizations to remedy injustices caused by capitalism. Luddism involved attacking machines, spreading to France, Belgium, and Spain. Workers realized the problem was capitalism, not machines. Working partnerships emerged for mutual aid. In English cities, mobilizations were driven by unionism, with Robert Owen’s influence. Trade Unions grew to 500,000 members but were declared illegal. Chartism aimed to form political parties defending workers’ rights, advocating
Read MoreThe Spanish Republic: Challenges and Transformations in the 1930s
Republic
Progressive Reformist Biennium: A stage of left-wing socialist government that was quite moderate. The objective was to transform the country’s social and economic landscape to face the problems that prevented it from living up to the standards of modern capitalist countries.
All this meant political reforms addressing structural problems such as land ownership, industrial development, the influence of the church, nationalism, and military issues. This culminated in a modern constitution
Read MoreRussian Revolution: From Tsar to USSR
Movements of Opposition to the Tsar
The intelligentsia, including students and intellectuals, rejected the established political order. Populists believed socialism could be achieved without capitalism. The Russian Social Democratic Labor Party formed, with Mensheviks led by Martov advocating a liberal revolution and Bolsheviks led by Lenin urging a mass revolution. The Socialist-Revolutionary Party sought a parliamentary system. The Constitutional Democratic Party aimed for a British-style constitutional
Read MoreSpanish Civil War: Key Battles and Republican Defeat
The Northern Campaign and the Republican Offensive
Between March 1937 and March 1938, the Nationalist forces, with superior air and naval power, attacked the Republican territory in the north. The Basque government and the Ministry of War lacked coordination, leading to the fall of Vizcaya and Bilbao in June 1937. The industry was captured almost intact by the Nationalists. Part of the Republican army in the Basque Country surrendered to the Italians after the Pact of Santoña. The bombing of Guernica
Read MoreSpanish Civil War (1936-1939): Origins and Uprising
Civil War (1936-1939)
1. Introduction
In 1936, before the elections won by the Popular Front, groups of soldiers planned a coup in case the left reached the government. General Mola, relegated to the Military Government of Pamplona, acted as organizer. He had many officers of the EMU (European Spanish Military) distributed throughout the territory. The prestigious General Sanjurjo, in exile in Lisbon, would take high command. The plans were advanced by July 10 when Franco would lead to Morocco. On
Read MoreBirth of Spanish Liberalism: Cádiz 1812
Cádiz Courts and the Constitution of 1812
Las Cortes de Cádiz and the Constitution of 1812 represent the first institution and the foremost liberal legislation in the history of Spain. They embody the ideas of liberalism, and although they initially had little effect, they served as the model for liberal revolution until the regency of Maria Cristina.
Background
- The old regime was failing; there was a major crisis, and the bourgeoisie sought to acquire land. Wars against France, stemming from the