20th-Century Spain: From Dictatorship to Democracy

Posted on Nov 20, 2024 in Geology

Primo de Rivera Dictatorship (1923-1930)

Key Events:

  • Suspension of the Constitution
  • Growth of large monopolistic companies and public works
  • Barcelona Universal Exposition and Seville Ibero-American Exhibition
  • End of the Rif War in Morocco after the Alhucemas landing

Spanish Economy in the First Third of the 20th Century

Interventionist Economy

  • Agrarian sector dominated, with industrialization centered in Catalonia, Basque Country, and Madrid
  • Improvement of road and banking networks
  • High state protection reduced Spanish presence in international production

Economic Actions

  • Creation of large monopolistic businesses
  • Realization of state public works (roads, dams, etc.)

Outcome

  • True economic development, although problems persisted

Biennio Reformista (1931-1933)

Following the proclamation of the Second Republic, a provisional government was formed with the objective of modernizing Spain and establishing a democratic republic.

Constitution of 1931

  • Cortes were convened to draft a new constitution
  • A president was elected for a six-year term
  • A single-chamber parliament was formed, chosen by universal suffrage
  • Established separation of church and state, making Spain a secular state
  • Allowed for regional autonomy and co-officiality of regional languages alongside Castilian

Niceto Alcalá-Zamora became the first president of the Republic. A government headed by Manuel Azaña was formed.

Biennio Conservador (1933-1935)

Conservative Ideology

  • Government measures curbed the reforms of the previous government, such as agrarian reforms
  • Coalition government failed due to corruption cases

Popular Front Government (1936)

Progressive Left Ideology

  • Resumption of the reforms of the Biennio Reformista
  • Failed due to the coup d’état

Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)

  • Rebel side (supported by Italy and Germany) vs. Republicans (supported by International Brigades)
  • Rebel side (Nationalists) won

Francoist Spain (1939-1975)

Characteristics

  • Single party: Falange Española Tradicionalista y de las JONS
  • Single national-syndicalist union
  • Autarkic economy
  • Repression of all internal dissent
  • Unlike other fascist regimes, the Catholic Church and the military held significant social and ideological weight

Stages of Francoism

  1. International isolation, repression, and widespread hunger
  2. Timid opening with the signing of the Concordat with the Vatican and agreements with the US
  3. Strong economic growth and significant social and cultural transformations
  4. Decline of Franco’s regime

Social and Political Bases of Francoism

  • Catholic Church: legitimized the regime, enjoyed a vast school network, and controlled social customs
  • Army: the regime was militarized, and the army was used for internal repression
  • Falangists: defended a fascist-type regime with an ideology mixing authoritarianism, conservatism, and patriotism
  • Monarchists: both Carlists and supporters of the Bourbon dynasty supported Franco from the beginning
  • Landowners, bankers, and a significant industrial bourgeoisie, especially in the Basque Country and Catalonia

Key Dates of Francoism

Phase 1

  • 1940: Franco’s meeting with Hitler in Hendaye
  • 1941: Creation of the INI (National Institute of Industry)
  • 1946: The regime is condemned and diplomatically isolated
  • 1947: Law of Succession

Phase 2

  • 1953: Agreements signed with the United States
  • 1953: Concordat signed with the Vatican
  • 1955: Spain joins the UN
  • 1956: Independence of Spanish Morocco
  • 1958: Law of Principles of the Movimiento
  • 1959: Stabilization Plan
  • 1959: ETA founded

Phase 3

  • 1964: Development plans launched
  • 1968: Equatorial Guinea gains independence
  • 1969: Prince Juan Carlos de Borbón appointed as Franco’s successor
  • 1969: Sidi Ifni returned to Morocco
  • 1970: General Law of Education
  • 1973: ETA assassinates Admiral Carrero Blanco

Phase 4

  • 1975: Green March in Spanish Sahara
  • 1975: Franco dies on November 20

Transition to Democracy

Arias Navarro Government

On November 22, 1975, Juan Carlos I swore an oath before the Cortes as the new head of state and king of Spain.

Adolfo Suárez Government

  • 1976: Political parties legalized
  • 1977: First general elections. UCD, led by Suárez, wins the most votes
  • 1978: Referendum approves the Constitution on December 6

End of the Transition

  • January 29, 1981: Suárez resigns. During the investiture of his successor, Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo, a military coup d’état takes place on February 23 but fails
  • Calvo-Sotelo’s government: Divorce law and Spain’s entry into NATO