The Spanish Transition: From Dictatorship to Democracy (1975-1978)
Spain’s Transition to Democracy (1975-1978)
The Reign of Juan Carlos I and the Reform Process
Juan Carlos I, as heir to Franco, began his reign in 1975. Both the democratic opposition and Franco’s supporters placed their trust in him. Arias Navarro, a figure from the Franco era, became the first President of the government under the monarchy and faced widespread criticism. His heterogeneous government, which included Manuel Fraga, presented a political program that lacked innovation and praised Franco’
Read MoreThe Cortes of Cádiz (1812) and the Dawn of Liberalism in Spain
The Cortes of Cádiz (1812) and the Establishment of Liberalism
The Rise of Liberalism
The historical process known as the liberal revolution led to the decline and eventual disappearance of the Old Regime, giving rise to the Liberal State, capitalism, and bourgeois society. Liberalism, rooted in the Enlightenment, championed several key principles:
- National sovereignty
- Economic freedoms
- Separation of powers
- Individual rights and freedoms against the state
- Legal equality
- Abolition of estate privileges
These
Read MoreSpain’s Second Republic: A Tumultuous Journey
Causes of the Fall of the Monarchy
The return to the previous dictatorial regime was impossible due to three factors:
- The dynastic parties (Conservative and Liberal) were disorganized and discredited.
- The public associated the King with the dictatorial regime, making King Alfonso XIII and the monarchy unpopular.
- Anti-dynastic forces took the political initiative, culminating in the Pact of San Sebastian in August 1930.
Interim Government and Elections
The strategy to overthrow the monarchy involved a
Read MoreFascism and Nazism: A Comparative Analysis
Italian Fascism: The Socio-Political Crisis in Italy After the Great War, Italy was plunged into a deep social and political crisis that led to the rise of fascism. Key factors in this crisis were:
- The unrest after the First World War: The peace accords left Italy’s territorial claims unsatisfied.
- The crisis of the democratic system in Italy: The failure to create stable governments allowed fascism to erode the system.
- Economic crisis: The war effort had exhausted the Italian economy.
- Labor unrest:
19th Century Chilean Presidents: A Historical Overview
José Joaquín Pérez (1861-1871)
Features
Transition period, ruled with the support of the Conservative Liberal Merger. He was re-elected.
Events
War against Spain (1865-1866)
Spain, after the loss of most of its American colonies, began a process of decay. Unsuccessful imperialist attempts were guided to the recovery of their former domains through actions such as the annexation of Santo Domingo (1860) and the joint invasion with France in Mexico (1860). In 1862, Spain sent a fleet to Peru with the
Read MoreSpanish Monarchy Transformation Under the Bourbons: Centralization and Reform
1. Historical Context: The War of Spanish Succession and the Rise of the Bourbons
In 1700, King Charles II, the last Habsburg ruler of Spain, died without an heir. This triggered the War of Spanish Succession (1700-1713), a complex international and internal conflict. While Charles II’s will named Philip of Anjou, a French Bourbon, as his successor, other European powers, including England, opposed this due to fears of increased French power. Within Spain, Castile largely supported Philip, while
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