Spain’s Tumultuous Early 20th Century: Alfonso XIII’s Reign (1902-1923)
Alfonso XIII’s Reign: Spain in Crisis (1902-1923)
The period from 1902 to 1923, under the reign of Alfonso XIII, was marked by profound political and social instability that challenged the very foundations of the Restoration system.
Permanent Instability: Causes and Consequences
The political crisis during Alfonso XIII’s reign stemmed from several factors:
- Alfonso XIII’s direct involvement in frequent government changes.
- Intense struggles between emerging political factions.
- Political manipulation primarily
Early History of the British Isles
Early Peoples of the British Isles
Before the Roman Empire, several cultures and peoples settled in the British Isles.
Homo heidelbergensis: Around 500,000 years ago, when Great Britain was still connected to Europe, Homo heidelbergensis populated the area.
Homo neanderthalensis: Approximately 230,000 years ago, Homo neanderthalensis arrived in Britain.
Homo sapiens: Though originating 200,000 years ago, Homo sapiens arrived in Great Britain around 40,000 years ago, with a substantial population formed
The Great Gatsby, Jazz Age, and American History
The Great Gatsby
The Great Gatsby, the third novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald, was published in 1925 by Charles Scribner’s Sons. Set in Jazz Age New York, the novel tells the tragic story of Jay Gatsby and his search for Daisy Buchanan, a young woman he loved in his youth. Since its publication, the book is considered a classic of American fiction and has often been called the Great American Novel.
Themes
Themes are fundamental elements of a literary work.
- Decline of the American Dream in the 1920s
- Hollowness
The French Revolution and the Church
The French Revolution, a major social upheaval that marked the transition from the eighteenth to the nineteenth century, stands as one of history’s most significant events. While Europe experienced profound change, American countries gained independence, and history became increasingly universal. The concept of the state shifted from a hereditary dynasty to one based on the country and its people, defined by its constitution, whether republican or monarchical.
Events in France
Political, economic,
Read MoreIdeological Pillars of the Franco Regime in Spain
Ideological Foundations of the Franco Regime
The civil war caused by military rebels resulted in the organization of a personal dictatorship that would last until the dictator’s death in 1975. This particular system was built on the ideological foundations of European fascist regimes and Spanish traditionalist thought.
Franco’s Core Principles:
- Anti-communism: The fight against the communist threat became the justification for the military coup and civil war. The regime enacted a retroactive law condemning
Spain 1936: Election, Conflict, and Conspiracy
Popular Front Program & Feb 1936 Election
International communism’s change of strategy dictated that policy should continue through the establishment of Popular Fronts. These involved an alliance of socialist and communist parties with bourgeois parties, united against a common enemy: fascism. The Popular Front project was implemented in Spain. As the government was embroiled in bribery and financial scandals, it called for elections on February 16, 1936. Republicans and Socialists prepared for
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