Spanish Nationalism Origins: A Historical Overview
In this connection, Professor DomÃnguez Ortiz says: Before the 18th century, Spain was a geographical expression without political content. The loss of extra-peninsular European domains can be seen as the moment when Spain was created as a defined political entity. Since then, while not abandoning its ostentatious traditional image, there was a King of Spain… smaller than the empire, bigger than Castile. Spain is the most extraordinary 18th-century creation, which remains nebulous, lacking solid
Read MoreThe Fall of the Spanish Monarchy (1902-1930)
Alfonso XIII ascends the throne.
The Reformist Dynastic Period (1907-1913)
The Turno System
Maura (conservative) and Canalejas (liberal), influenced by the Regenerationist movement, led reform attempts. Maura’s “long government” (1907-1909) aimed to create a strong state through a “revolution from above.” His reforms included electoral reform, social policies (National Institute for Rest and Sundays off), and greater executive independence from the Crown. He also sought to integrate Catalan regions.
Read MorePrimo de Rivera’s Dictatorship (1923-1930): Rise and Fall
Primo de Rivera’s Dictatorship (1923-1930)
The Rise of the Dictatorship
The first two decades of the 20th century in Spain were marked by failed political regeneration attempts. The alternating governments proved incapable of establishing a true democratic system. Furthermore, echoing trends across Europe, the 1917 communist revolution in Russia pushed Spanish socialists, anarchists, and right-wing parties towards ideological extremes. Social unrest and violence escalated, with farmers and workers
Read MoreSpanish Civil War (1936-1939): A Concise History
The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)
Following the Popular Front’s 1936 electoral victory, political tensions escalated, with both left and right-wing factions resorting to violence, threatening the stability of republican institutions.
The Uprising
A right-wing conspiracy, supported by Benito Mussolini, aimed to overthrow the Republic. General Mola spearheaded the uprising, with Franco’s involvement solidifying later. The Republican government, aware of the plot but underestimating its scale, failed
Read MoreSpanish Civil War: A Precursor to WWII
The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)
A Precursor to World War II
On July 18, 1936, a military rebellion against the Second Spanish Republic ignited the Spanish Civil War, a conflict foreshadowing World War II. This war became a battleground for fascism, communism, and democracy. It pitted the established ruling class, backed by the army and the church, against emerging classes advocating for democratic and social justice.
Causes of the War
- Resistance to agrarian and land reform
- Nationalism
- Poor living conditions
- The
Spain’s Transformation: Restoration to Dictatorship (1874-1923)
The Restoration Era (1874-1902)
The Restoration period began with favorable political developments and stability. However, the agricultural sector, employing two-thirds of the population and dominating the Spanish economy, suffered from low yields and archaic techniques. Viticulture thrived due to the phylloxera plague in France, leading to massive wine exports to Europe. Meanwhile, the industrial sector experienced dynamic growth, setting Spain on a path towards industrialization in the early
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