Franco’s Final Years: Crisis and Opposition in Spain
Opposition and Crisis in Late Francoism
Growing Opposition Movements
The seventies witnessed the end of the Franco regime, coinciding with the death of Francisco Franco and a general crisis. The reorganization of the opposition, fueled by economic and social changes in the sixties, led to increased resistance. More educated individuals often opposed the regime. In 1956, the Communist Party (PCE) launched a national reconciliation policy aimed at an alliance of all parties opposing the dictatorship,
Read MorePost-WWI Peace Treaties: Reshaping Central & Eastern Europe
Treaty of St. Germain (1919): Austria
This treaty was signed in 1919 and dealt with Austria following World War I. Key terms included:
- Territorial Losses: Austria lost Bohemia to Czechoslovakia; Bosnia, Herzegovina, and Croatia to Yugoslavia; South Tyrol, Tarvisio, and parts of Carinthia to Italy; and Galicia to Poland.
- Political Restrictions: Anschluss (political union with Germany) was forbidden.
- Military Limitations: Conscription was banned, a navy was forbidden, and the army was limited to 30,000
League of Nations: Formation, US Absence & Challenges
Formation of the League of Nations
After World War I, a consensus emerged to prevent future mass slaughter, leading to the agreement that a League of Nations could achieve this goal. However, disagreements arose regarding the organization’s structure.
Competing Visions for the League
- President Wilson (USA): Advocated for a world parliament where representatives of all nations could meet for discussions. This vision ultimately won.
- British Leaders: Preferred a simpler organization, similar to the existing
Understanding the Cold War: A Concise History
The Cold War: A Clash of Ideologies
The Cold War was an ideological, political, economic, and military conflict between the capitalist bloc led by the USA and the communist bloc led by the USSR. It spanned from 1945, the end of the Second World War, to 1991, the collapse of the USSR. It was termed ‘cold’ because the level of direct violence in Europe and North America was lower compared to previous conflicts. However, it had devastating consequences in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The two superpowers
Read MoreUnderstanding the Second Spanish Republic: People and Policies
Key Figures and Events of the Second Spanish Republic
Largo Caballero was a trade unionist and political leader in Spanish history, belonging to the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party and the General Workers’ Union. During the Second Spanish Republic, he served as Minister of Labor (1931-1933) and Prime Minister (1936-1937).
López Ochoa, having met Primo de Rivera in Africa, was appointed civil and military governor of Catalonia during the establishment of the dictatorship. However, his tenure was
Read MoreSpain’s Carlist Wars: Liberalism, Absolutism & Foral Rights
The Carlist Wars and the Foral Question
The first steps of the liberal regime in Spain during the minority of Isabel II (1833-1843) coincided with a civil war, the First Carlist War, between government forces (supporters of Isabel II, known as *Isabelinos* or Cristinos) and supporters of absolutism, represented by Carlos María Isidro, uncle of the queen.
Causes of the Conflict
The conflict stemmed from the question of succession following the death of Fernando VII. One side supported the legitimacy
Read More