Spain’s Restoration: Caciquismo, Labor Movement, and Nationalism
Caciquismo and the Restoration
Universal male suffrage did not imply the existence of democracy. The Restoration favored electoral consultations, which were subject to manipulation and fraud.
Caciquismo is the socio-political relationship that exists between the Cacique (Chief) and their clients.
The Caciques
- It was the local leader of a political party.
- He controlled the state administration, hence its power.
- He could use legal state institutions.
- He acted locally and at the district, and even provincial,
World War II and Russian Revolutions: Causes and Aftermath
Causes and Development of World War II
The National Socialist Germany implemented a policy marked by the demands of the economically powerful industrial and financial class. German ambitions would become the trigger for World War II, with expansionist plans incompatible with the European equilibrium.
Axis Victories
1939
Hitler invaded Poland, and the German army quickly conquered the country. Later, Russia invaded eastern Poland, establishing a line of separation. The Russian Red Army invaded Finland,
Read MoreSpanish Civil War: Causes and Consequences (1936-1939)
The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)
Causes of the Spanish Civil War
Among the general causes, the rivalry between the two Spains stands out: a traditionalist one and an innovative one. For the right, the war was seen as a crusade against communism; for the left, it was the people’s resistance against fascism. For Azaña, then president of the Republic, it was a collective hallucination in which heroism and atrocities, intolerance and fanaticism, hatred and fear coexisted.
- The Rise of Totalitarian Ideologies
World War I: Causes, Stages, and Aftermath
World War I: The Great War
Territorial Tensions
Not only the Balkans were tense. France, for its part, was confronted with Germany over the territories of Alsace and Lorraine, lost in the Franco-Prussian Conflict.
Economic Factors
Germany had burst into international markets, competing with major financial powers like France and Britain.
Propaganda and Ideology
Countries engaged in public campaigns to discredit rival states and justify military spending, highlighting the perceived danger of war.
The Spark:
Read MoreSpain’s Transition to Democracy: Constitution & Autonomy
After Franco’s death on November 20, 1975, and the ascension of Juan Carlos I to the throne, Franco’s regime continued, with a division between the immoviles (the “bunker”) and those favoring openness (Manuel Fraga, Areilza, Adolfo Suarez). The Opposition, still illegal, was quite divided but included the PCE (led by Santiago Carrillo), the Socialists (split into PSOE led by Felipe González, and PSP led by Tierno Galván), and Basque and Catalan nationalists. These groups were joined by clandestine
Read MoreSpain Under Primo de Rivera: 1923-1930
Primo de Rivera’s Dictatorship (1923-1930)
Introduction
On September 13, 1923, General Miguel Primo de Rivera declared a state of war and demanded the handover of power. After several hours, King Alfonso XIII accepted the establishment of a new government formed exclusively by the military, and the crown became attached to the dictatorship.
During the dictatorship, which lasted seven years, two forms of government were established:
- (1923-1925) The Military Directory
- (1925-1930) The Civil Directory
The
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