The Restoration in Spain: Monarchy and Politics (1874-1902)
The Restoration in Spain (1874-1902)
The Return of the Bourbons
Following General Pavia’s coup and the dissolution of Parliament, a provisional government was established. While the Republic technically remained, General Serrano’s military dictatorship effectively ruled. Increased taxes and demonstrations halted Carlist advancements. However, by year’s end, Serrano’s position weakened as support for Alfonso XII grew among the middle class and the army.
Prince Alfonso, advised by Cánovas, issued the
Read MoreSpain’s Transition to Democracy: From Franco to Freedom
Spain’s Transition to Democracy
Introduction: Crisis of the Franco Regime
The Franco regime’s instability after Franco’s death was evident. The majority of the population and key political forces demanded change. Several factors contributed to this crisis:
- Institutional: Franco held absolute power under the Organic Law of the State. This model was unsustainable with the monarchy.
- Political: The King opposed continuity, and the death of Carrero Blanco left a power vacuum.
- Socio-economic: Spain, the 10th
Spain’s Transition to Democracy: From Franco to the EU
Spain’s Transition to Democracy (1975-1986)
The Death of Franco and the Dawn of a New Era
On November 20, 1975, the Carlos Arias Navarro government announced the death of Francisco Franco, ending his decades-long dictatorship. This marked the beginning of a peaceful transition to democracy, culminating in the Socialist Party (PSOE) government of 1982.
Two days after Franco’s death, Juan Carlos I was proclaimed king. Initially, King Juan Carlos opted to retain Arias Navarro as the head of government.
Read MoreThe Spanish-American War of 1898: Crisis and Collapse of the Spanish Empire
Colonial War and the crisis of 1898
During the reign of Fernando VII (1808-1933) most of the Spanish colonies in America had gained independence, forming a series of independent republics ruled by the minority of Spanish descendants, the Creoles. After the independence movement had Spain just as the American colonies in islands of Cuba and Puerto Rico, which together with the Philippines in Asia, were the last remnants of the great Spanish Empire at the time of the Habsburgs. In 1823 U.S. President
Read MoreThe Second Spanish Republic and Franco’s Regime
The Second Spanish Republic (1931-1939)
Establishment of the Republic
After the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera, the Second Spanish Republic was proclaimed in 1931. It can be divided into three distinct periods:
- The Reformist Biennium (April 1931 – November 1933): A period of left-leaning republican governments.
- The Conservative Biennium (November 1933 – February 1936): A period of right-leaning governments.
- The Popular Front (February 1936 – June 1936): A left-wing coalition government that faced a
The Franco Regime and its Opposition
Objections to the System
The final years of the sixties and early seventies were marked by strong growth of the opposition in factories where illegal trade unionism had been reborn. Strikes and labor unrest grew in intensity from 1960 to 1975.
The Franco authorities considered all labor protests as a problem of public order, so the response was purely repressive through the political police, the Political-Social Brigade, which did not hesitate to use torture in police stations.
In the field of association,
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