Our 20th.

Century

1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990


Alfonso XIII
He was the king of Spain.
He reigned from 1902 to 1931.
At the time the Conservative
and the Liberal Parties took
turns in power following the
dictates of the 1876
Constitution
Highlights
Spain had lost their colonies
in Cuba, Puerto Rico and
Philippines in 1898 and the
beginning of the 20th
century meant a deep crisis
(political, economic, religious,
intelectual). The nationalist
feeling was active in
different regions as a
consequence of the crisis in
the national identity.
Antonio Gaudí
(1852-1926)
He was a Spanish Catalan.
He belonged to the Modernist style It was made by the Catalan
movement
He was famous for his unique and
highly individualistic designs
His most famous construction is the
Sagrada Familia.
Casa Milá
(1906-1910)
Casa Milá is called La Pedrera
too.
architect Antonio Gaudí and it
was made between 1906 and
1910.
The style of this house is
modernist.
It is located in the district of
Eixample in Barcelona.
Tragic Week (1909)

It was the name for a series of bloody confrontations

between the army and working classes of Barcelona and
Catalonia when the government decided to send soldiers to
fight in Morocco.
It was backed by the anarchists, socialists and
republicans, during the last week of July.

There were some actions based on with anarchist, anti-

militarist and anti-colonial philosophies shared by many in
the city.

After disturbances in downtown Barcelona, security forces

shot at demostrators in Las Ramblas, resulting in
barricades in the streets and the proclamation of martial
law.

It was a global military conflict which
involved the majority of the world's
great
powers.
Over 70 million military personnel
were
mobilized in one of the largest wars in
history.
Over 15 million people were killed,
making
it one of the deadliest conflicts in
In Spain
• As a result of official Spanish
neutrality, gold reserves more
than tripled, and the government
was able to liquidate much of the
national debt
• Other areas of the peninsula were
devastated by shortages and
unemployment, forcing thousands
of workers to migrate, mainly to
Barcelona and Bilbao.
• At the end of 1916, leaders of the
Socialist and the Anarcho-
syndicalists came together and
concerted a one-day general
strike, which represented the
failure to impose democratization
from below.
• In July 1916 a historical Labour
Pact was concluded.
• Around the end of the First World
War, Spain implemented economic
restructuring and prepared for
• The army of Spain is
defeated near Melilla by the
soldiers directed by Abd-el-
Krim(1921).
•Alfonso XIII supports general
attempt to try to remove Spain
from the crisis(1923).
• Antonio Gaudí died (great
Catalan architect)(1926).
• The premiere of "The jazz
singer," the first film is spoken
and sung, after three decades of
silent films(1927).

• The fall in prices on Wall Street

caused a collapse that generates
an unprecedented economic crisis
worldwide, including
Spain(1929).

• Dictatorship of General Primo de

Rivera (1923-1930).
 What happened?

In the 1930-1940 decade a lot of historical events took place:

SECOND REPUBLIC:
1931: After the elections, the Republic is proclaimed. The revolutionary committee becomes the
provisional Government. Niceto Alcala Zamora is named president. The Constituent Cortes draft
a new Constitution.
1933: The centre-right parties obtain a majority in the Cortes.
1934: Revolutions take place in Catalonia and Asturias in protest against the participation of the
CEDA (Spanish Confederation of the Autonomous Right-Wing) in the government.
1936: The Popular Front, a left-wing coalition, wins the elections. The new Cortes depose Alcala
Zamora and appoint Manuel Azana President of the Republic.

CIVIL WAR (1936/39): The Spanish Civil War was a major conflict in Spain that started after an
attempted coup d'état by a group of Spanish Army generals, supported by the conservative
Confederación Española de Derechas Autónomas,Carlist groups and the fascistic Falange
Española de las J.O.N.S. against the government of the Second Spanish Republic, then under the
leadership of president Manuel Azaña. And then 40 years of Franco´s dictatorship.
THE POPULAR FRONT:
In Spain's Second Republic it was an electoral coalition and
pact signed in January 1936 by various left-wing political
organisations, instigated by Manuel Azaña for the purpose of
contesting that year's election.
The Popular Front included the Spanish Socialist Workers'
Party (PSOE), Workers' General Union (UGT), Communist
Party of Spain (PCE), the Workers' Party of Marxist
Unification (POUM, independent communist) and the
republicans.
FRANCO BECOMES A DICTATOR:
The Spanish Civil War began in July 1936 and officially ended
with Franco's victory in April 1939, leaving 190,000 to
500,000 dead. Despite the Non-Intervention Agreement of
August 1936, the war was marked by foreign intervention on
behalf of both sides, leading to international repercussions.
The nationalist side was supported by Fascist Italy and later
Nazi Germany, which assisted with the Condor Legion
infamous for their bombing of Guernica in April 1937. Britain
and France strictly adhered to the arms embargo, provoking
dissensions within the French Popular Front coalition led by
Léon Blum, but the Republican side was nonetheless
supported by volunteers fighting in the International
Brigades and the Soviet Union. (See for example Ken Loach's
Land and Freedom.)
 The bombing of
The bombing of Guernica (April 26, 1937) was an
aerial attack on the Basque town of Guernica,
causing widespread destruction and civilian deaths
during the Spanish Civil War. The raid by planes of
the German Luftwaffe "Condor Legion" and the
Italian Fascist Aviazione Legionaria was called
Operation Rügen. More than 1, 000 people were
reported killed, but modern research suggests
between 200 to 250 civilians died. Western
countries viewed Guernica as an example of ‘terror
bombing,' and it gave them the impression that the
Luftwaffe was equipped and committed to such a
policy.The bombing was the subject of a famous
anti-war painting by Pablo Picasso.Gernika was the
sacred place for the Basque (Casa de Juntas/Old
Cortes).It represented the first Basque Government,
led by Lehendakari (president) Aguirre once the
Republican Cortes had passed the Basque Statute
of Autonomy in 1936. The entire Basque Country
fell to Franco´s troops in July 1937.
 The 40´s
In Spain

The Spanish people lose their individual liberties and rights.

People also lose the freedom of press and the writers have to submit to
a strict censorship.
The political parties remain forbidden, except for one –El movimiento–
Franco´s party.
A lot of people suffer hunger, poverty and illnesses, for example:
tuberculosis.
The official use of the diverse languages (in Cataluña, País Vasco and
Galicia) is suppressed
Franco didn´t take part in World War II.
 The 40´s
Around The World and in our
 country
Nazi Germany loses the Battle of Britain .
 The United States enter World War II after the attact On Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941
 Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (August 6 and August 9, 1945); Japan
surrenders on August 15.
 World War II officially ends on September 2, 1945
 Some Spanish soldiers (Republican…) fight against Germany and suffer in concentration
camps.
 In Spain the post-war period after the long Civil War is truly hard with an enormous amount
of repression(imprisonment,exile, executions).The Basque language and culture were
persecuted,political and trade union activities were outlawed.
•During the 1950's and 1960's Spain had one of the highest rates of economic
growth in the world. In 1953 Spain signed a defense agreement with the US which
allowed the establishment of US bases on its territory and in 1955 became a
member of the UN.
•1959 saw the creation of ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna, Euskadi and Freedom),
an organisation based on left-wing,nationalist ideology, and which adopted a
strategy of armed struggle in the 60s.

•In 1950 the ideological principles of the political system under

Franco remain basically unchanged, but turn into liberal. The state
begins to receive help from USA. Inflation keeps very high and in
1955 it is clear the need to detain it. Spain goes into the
international forums. Franco is the head of the State and during the
main part of the period the president of the Government. Because
of his political alliances with Nazi Germany and fascist Italy, after
the defeat in 1945 Spain became a pariah in democratized Europe.
The bourgeoisie landowner and semifeudal is the one who more engaged with the
political system, but the regime was also supported by the financial and industrial
oligarchies. The protectionist politics of the political system allowed to make a lot of
money in the black market. The small bourgeoisie was, social and politically, to the
margin of the regime. It felt comfortable in stability.

Important contribution of the railway (Renfe) to the economic development

experienced by the Spanish society throughout the second half of the 20th
century.

In 1952 Bilbao’s industry has grown a lot because of

avanced technology. Coal has been substituted by
electricity and petrol.
 •The Basque-speaking territory was once much larger than today.
However, geographical language loss is attested from the Roman
period, when Basque was lost in the south of Navarre. At the end of the
1950s, the Basque language became the central element in a process
of change in different aspects During the 1950s, a few parents and
teachers opened small ikastolas (schools) in private homes.

The Basque football team wins an important competition

Germany versus Portugal. Also the Basque
“pelota”(see picture) becomes very important here and
in around the world.
THE DESARROLLO, THE SPANISH MIRACLE
(1959–1973):

•The Spanish Miracle (Desarrollo) was the name

given to the Spanish economic boom between 1959
and 1973: rising middle classes in a welfare state
with money to spend.
•The icon of the Desarrollo was the SEAT 600 (a
license-built Italian Fiat 600) the first car for many
Spanish working class families, produced by the
Spanish factory SEAT or Sociedad Española de
Automóviles de Turismo.
• TOUR OF SPAIN
•The 18th Vuelta a España, a long-distance bicycle stage race and
one of the 3 grana tours, was held from May 1 to May 15, 1963. It
consisted of 15 stages covering a total of 2,442 km, and was won by
Jacques Anquetil of the St. Raphael-Gitane cycling team.

• 1964 EUROPEAN NATION’S CUP

•The 1964 UEFA European Nations Cup was the second
edition of the quadrennial European Football
Championship, endorsed by UEFA. The final tournament
was held in Spain. It was won by the hosts 2-1 over
defending champions Soviet Union.

• THE PALOMARES INCIDENT :

•The Palomares Incident occurred on January 17,
1966, when a B-52G bomber of the USAF Strategic Air
Command collided with a KC-135 tanker. Of the four
Mk28 type hydrogen bombs the B-52G carried, three
were found on land near the small fishing village of
Palomares in the municipality of Cuevas del
Almanzora, Almería, Spain.
 The 60's
•THE CONTRACEPTIVE PILL WAS RELEASED
(1960)
• They were first approved for
contraceptive use in the United States in
1960, and are a very popular form of birth
control.
• In Spain, sexual repression
•THE FIRST HEART TRANSPLANT (1964)The
first heart transplant involving a human being
was carried out by a team led by Dr James D.
Hardy on the of 23 of January 1964 at the
University of Mississippi Medical Center, when
the heart of a chimpanzee was transplanted
into the chest of a dying man.Spain was far
behind. Tourism then started as a flourishing
industry and that opened the country to
foreign visitors. Spanish people could
 1970-1980
Europe and our country:
• 1970: Enver Hoxha's rule in Albania
was characterized by growing
isolation.
• 1972: Summer Olympics in Munich.
• 1975: Economic crisis.
Franco’s death.
Franco’s regime finished.
• 1976: Political changes.
• 1977: Moncloa’s agreement.
Adolfo Suarez wins the
elections.
• 1978: New Constitution.
On October 16, Karol Wojtyła,
a Polish cardinal, was elected Pope,
becoming Pope John Paul II after the
sudden death of Pope John Paul I.
• 1979: the Basque Statute of Autonomy
was passed by referendum.
• 1980: Carlos Garaikoetxea was the
first Basque Lehendakari (President) in
the democratic period. The Basque
Nationalist Party (PNV) would be in
power in the Basque Country until
2009.
Important people:
• Francisco Franco: soldier and Spanish
dictator.
• Juan Carlos I: Spanish king.
• Adolfo Suárez: President of the Spanish
government.
• Juan Pablo II:The Pope.
Music:
• ABBA (Dancing Queen)
• Beatles (Let it be)
• Queen (A night at the Opera)
• Ramones (leave home,R amones)
Cinema:
• Grease (Olivia Newton, John and John
Travolta)
• La Guerra de las Galaxias (George
Lucas)
• Rocky II (Sylbester Stallone)
 Franco’s regime

Franco's last years (1973–1975):

Francisco Franco was the dictator and Head of State of Spain from
October
1936 and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain
from
1947 until his death in 1975. His rule was known for a focus on Spanish
nationalism, right wing and traditional values.

Francisco Franco became the undisputed dictator of Spain when he

defeated
the Republican government in the Spanish Civil War.
In 1973 ETA killed Carrero Blanco, the head of the government,appointed
by Franco
In 1974 Franco fell ill, and Juan Carlos took over as Head of State. Franco
soon recovered, but one year later fell ill once again, and after a long
illness
Franco died on November 20, 1975,
 Spanish transition:

The Spanish transition to democracy was the era when Spain moved from
the dictatorship of Francisco Franco to a liberal democratic state.
The transition started with Franco’s death on November 20, 1975, while its
completion has been variously said to be marked by the Spanish
Constitution of 1978, the failure of Antonio Tejero's attempted coup on
February 23, 1981, or the electoral victory of the socialist PSOE on October
28, 1982.

The elections (first democratic elections) that were

held on
June 15, 1977, confirmed the existence of important
political forces at the national level:
•Union of the Democratic Center. The winners (it
would soon disappear to give way to the Conservative
Party)
•Spanish Socialist Workers Party
•Communist Party of Spain (recently legalised)
•Nationalist parties from Cataluña and the Basque
Country.
 23-F is the name given to a failed coup d ’etat in
Spain that started on 23 February 1981 and
ended the next day on 24 February 1981.
Antonio Tejero conducted the most notable
event of the coup by storming into the Spanish
Congress of Diputies with a group of 200 armed
Guardia Civil agents during the process of
electing Leopoldo Calvo Sotelo as the new Prime
Minister. After holding the Parliament and
cabinet hostage for 18 hours the hostage – takers
surrendered the next morning without having harmed
anyone.

In 1982 started the conversion of the industry.

• In 1980 The Gernika painting was brought back to Spain,
which was a democratic country.
• In 1982 the Socialist party won the general elections led by
Felipe González.Important issues to tackle: economic crisis,
social equality, consolidate democracy and foreign affairs. It
was a period of great changes towards progress. The
country became truly European and European support was
welcome in all fields (culture,roads, ...). Prosperity. The
Spanish State consisting of 17 autonomous regions was
developed
• In the 1986s Spain started being a member of the European
Union
• The Spanish people voted for taking part in the NATO after
a big public debate.
• In 1980s the fashion had a radical change.
Trousers were worn up to waist, t-shirts were very
short and colourful for girls and for boys they were
bright and outrageous, but it was the fashion of the age
and all people wore it.
• The 1992 summer Olympic
Games, officially known as the
games of the XXV Olympiad,
were an international sports
event celebrated in Barcelona,
Cataluña, Spain.
• 169 nations took part.
• 9356 athletes participated in the
event.
• Guggenheim Museum was
designed by the famous architect
Frank Gehry in Bilbao, Basque
Country. It was opened to the
public in 1997.
• It is one of the most symbolic
buildings in our country.
• The Expo´92 took place from April 20th to October 12th in
Seville, Spain. The theme for the Expo was "The Age of
Discovery" and over 100 countries were represented.

• City of Arts and Sciences was designed by Valencian architect

Santiago Calatrava, and started in July 1996, it is an
impressive example of contemporary architecture.

• From 1982 to 1996 the Spanish Socialist PSOE governed

Spain (Felipe González)and from 1996 to 2004 the centre-
right Partido Popular (José Mª Aznar) ruled the country.