Franco Regime: 1959-1975
1. Political Aspects
Technocratic Government (1959-1973)
During the 1950s, a shift in regime policy began with the appointment of Opus Dei technocrats as government ministers. This influence grew significantly in the 1960s, leading to economic policy changes and the abandonment of autarky. Key features of this era include:
- The rise of Opus Dei technocrats aimed to liberalize the Spanish economy by opening it to foreign investment and integrating it into the Western capitalist market.
- Opus Dei ministers
The Rise and Fall of Primo de Rivera’s Dictatorship (1923-1930)
Primo de Rivera’s Dictatorship (1923-1931)
The Failure of Parliamentary Monarchy and the Coup
The strike of 1917 triggered a political crisis, marked by short-lived Conservative and Liberal governments. The assassination of Eduardo Dato in 1921 fueled calls for a strong hand to address the country’s problems, including social unrest exemplified by the anarchist agitation in Catalonia and the “Trienio Bolchevique” in Andalusia. Widespread strikes, like the “Canadian” strike, disrupted major cities,
Read MoreThe Reign of Isabella II: 1833-1868 | Spanish Monarchy
The Reign of Isabella II (1833-1868)
The Regency of Maria Cristina of Naples (1833-1840)
Upon Fernando VII’s death in 1833, Maria Cristina became Regent. To secure the monarchy for her daughter, Isabella, she embraced liberalism. This was opposed by the king’s brother, Infante Carlos, sparking the First Carlist War between the Carlists (absolutists) and the Isabellists (liberals).
The regency faced two challenges: the Carlist War and establishing the liberal regime. The war, lasting until 1840, saw
Read MoreEnlightenment, Colonialism, and the World Wars: A Historical Overview
1. The Enlightenment and Adam Smith
The Enlightenment, an 18th-century philosophical and cultural movement originating in France, emphasized reason and empiricism to analyze humanity, society, and institutions. Key figures like Descartes, Newton, and Locke championed reason against tradition, superstition, and prejudice. The movement spread across Europe, challenging the foundations of the old regime.
The Enlightenment’s core principles included individualism, reason, happiness, progress, and religion.
Read MoreThe Fall of the Spanish Empire and the Rise of Dictatorship
The War at Sea (1898)
In 1898, Spain’s overseas possessions, excluding African enclaves, comprised Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, the Marianas, and the Carolinas. Spanish presence was significant only in the Caribbean islands and the Philippine capital. Cuba, once deeply loyal to the Spanish crown, erupted in riots, most notably the Ten Years’ War (1868-1878), culminating in the Pact of Zanjón. Spain’s critical error was failing to honor promises made to the rebels, granting concessions too
Read MoreThe Regeneration Crisis in Spain (1902-1923)
The Political Regeneration (1902-1912)
Conservative and Liberal Reform Attempts
Since the beginning of Alfonso XIII’s reign, politicians sought to implement the regeneration principles of Joaquín Costa. Conservative Antonio Maura and Liberal José Canalejas attempted reforms from within the system, but political attrition led to their failure.
In 1906, the Restoration system experienced its first major crisis, revealing the tension between civil and military power. One of the regime’s concerns was
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