The Franco Regime: Dictatorship, Repression, and Resistance in Spain (1936-1975)
The Franco Regime (1936-1975): An Overview
Franco’s Consolidation of Power
From his rise to power in 1936 until his death in 1975, Francisco Franco held absolute authority in Spain. He combined the roles of Head of State, Prime Minister, National Movement Leader, and Generalissimo of the Armed Forces. His regime was rooted in traditionalist Catholic thought and the Falangist ideology, which had links to European fascism. Franco’s power was supported by the Church, the Army, the Falange, the oligarchy,
Read MoreThe Cold War: Origins, Conflicts, and Decolonization
The Cold War
What was the Cold War?
The Cold War was a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc, which began following World War II. This rivalry dominated international relations and led to the division of the world into two ideological blocs: communist and capitalist. The term “Cold War” is used because there was no large-scale fighting directly between the two superpowers, but they each supported
Read MoreDivision of Liberalism in Spain: Moderates vs. Progressives
Division of Liberalism in Spain
Third Feature: Division of Liberalism
Spanish liberalism during the 19th century was divided into two main groups:
Moderate Liberals
- Origins: Former doceañistas who participated in the Cortes of Cadiz.
- Ideology:
- Doctrinaire Liberalism: Sovereignty resides in the courts and the Crown.
- Strong Executive: Favored a more powerful executive branch over the legislative branch.
- Bicameral Cortes: Supported a bicameral parliament with a Congress of Deputies (elected) and a Senate
World War I: Alliances, Conflicts, and Global Impact
Alliances and the Road to War
Bismarck’s Era and the Formation of Alliances
Alliances between countries began to form during the era of Chancellor Bismarck. Germany aimed to establish dominance in Europe by creating a power bloc centered around the German Empire. This alliance system also sought to isolate France and prevent a war to reclaim Alsace and Lorraine.
Bismarck negotiated the Three Emperors’ League (Austria, Russia, and Germany) and the Triple Alliance (Austria-Hungary, Germany, and Italy)
Read MoreThe Spanish Constitution of 1837
Property and Privileged Groups
Following the War of Independence, Ferdinand VII returned to power in Spain and repealed the Constitution of 1812, reinstating absolutism. This period (1814-1820) saw significant opposition to the king’s absolutism, eventually leading to his acceptance of the Constitution in 1820. This marked the beginning of the Trienio Liberal (1820-1823). However, this period was short-lived, as Ferdinand VII sought assistance from the Holy Alliance, resulting in the Constitution
Read MoreThe Spanish Empire: Discoveries, Conflicts, and Political Evolution
The Discovery of America
On April 17, 1492, the Capitulations of Santa Fe were signed, a contract between the Spanish Crown and Christopher Columbus. This contract stipulated that Columbus would be appointed Admiral of the Ocean Sea, Viceroy, and Governor of any lands he discovered. He was also granted the privilege of original jurisdiction, offered a tenth of all goods acquired or discovered, and an eighth share of the profits from all ships sailing to the new lands.
On October 12, 1492, Columbus
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