Early 20th Century Spain: Politics, Society & Culture
Early 20th Century Spain
Political and Social Developments
The Loss of the Spanish Empire
The Ten Years’ War (1868-1878): The Cuban War of insurrection.
The Little War (1879): A new conflict in Cuba due to the failure or delay in implementing the reforms of the Zanjón Peace.
José Martí: Led the Cuban rebels seeking liberation from Spain.
McKinley: The U.S. president who attempted to buy Cuba from Spain for $300 million.
The Maine Incident (1898): The explosion of the USS Maine in Havana harbor, killing
Read MoreSpain’s 1931 Constitution: A Progressive but Contested Document
The 1931 Spanish Constitution
Origins and Context
The 1931 Constitution, drafted by a commission led by Jimenez de Asua and appointed by elected members following the June 28, 1931 elections, represents a pivotal moment in Spanish history. This document, created in Madrid, the capital of the newly established Second Republic, aimed to define the legal and political nature of the state.
The Second Republic was proclaimed on April 14, 1931, in Eibar, after King Alfonso XIII temporarily suspended his
Read MoreRomanticism: Art, Culture, and Society in the 19th Century
Romanticism: Art, Culture, and Society (1820-1850)
Between Liberal Revolution and Reaction
The Napoleonic empire spread the ideals of the French Revolution across Europe. Following Napoleon’s defeat, the Restoration aimed to reinstate the old regime. Meanwhile, the Industrial Revolution fueled the rise of the bourgeoisie, leading to the liberal revolutions of 1820, 1830, and 1848, often initiated in France. The 1830 revolution ended Charles X’s absolutism, ushering in Louis Philippe’s liberal monarchy.
Read MoreWorld War I: The Rise of Global Conflict
1. The Great Powers Before the War
1.1 The Democratic Powers
Great Britain
During the Victorian era, under the reign of Queen Victoria I, Great Britain became a powerful global force. Its political system, a liberal monarchy, was based on the alternation of power between the Conservative (Tory) and Liberal (Whig) parties. The rise of the Labour Party marked a shift in the political landscape. Electoral reforms, known as the Reform Acts, expanded suffrage, leading to near-universal male voting rights.
Read MoreThe Tragic Week & Spain’s Economic Miracle
The Tragic Week
Background
The Tragic Week originated from tensions and turmoil in Barcelona, fueled by the rise of labor mobilization, nationalism, and republicanism (led by Alejandro Lerroux and the Radical Republican Party). Contributing factors included anti-clerical and anti-military sentiments (Jurisdiction Act).
The Crisis
The government’s decision to send reservist soldiers to Morocco in 1909 sparked protests. Following attacks on Spanish workers in the Rif region, the Maura government deployed
Read MoreWorld War II: Key Events, Figures, and Timeline
World War II: A Summary
Key Concepts
- Axis Powers (Rome-Berlin Axis): Military alliance between Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany.
- Anti-Comintern Pact: Pact between Germany and Japan (later joined by Italy and Spain) against the USSR.
- Genocide: Systematic extermination of an ethnic, religious, or political group.
- Partisans: Organized groups of armed civilians fighting against occupying forces.
- Ghetto: Neighborhood where marginalized groups are forced to live.
- Anschluss: 1938 annexation of Austria into the