TEXT COMMENTARY Nº13

INTRO
The text we are going to analyze is the speech of the deputy Clara Campoamor in the
constituent cortes. It is an historical text, the type of document is political and its content is
social. It was a speech made by Clara Campoamor who was a member of the Radical Party
and a defender of women’s rights. The speech was given to the public in the Cortes the 1st
of September of 1931, during the provisional government of the second republic, and also
during the drafting of the 1931 constitution. It was registered in the Diario de Sesiones de las
Cortes Constituyentes de la República Española.

ANALYSIS
The main idea of this text is that Clara Campoamor is advocating for universal suffrage and
equality between men and women in the new constitution of 1931. There are also some
secondary ideas that we should comment on.

In the first paragraph she emphasizes the importance to respect the rights of the human
beings, focusing more on the ones of the women. As she explains in her speech Dejad que
la mujer se manifieste como es (…), respetad su derecho como ser humano” (lines 1-2)“.

Then, in the second paragraph she comments the expectation she has related to the 1931
constitution, which was made during the provisional government of the republic, in it,
significant advances were made such as the women's right to vote or the divorce right. She
explains that the new constitution will be the most liberal and advanced one, overall, the best
of the world. It will bring a lot of changes, such as the decrete of the provisional government,
which allowed women to be part of the parliament.

Finally, in the third paragraph she emphasizes the fact that Spain will be the first latin
country, that is, before other mediterranean countries (Italy, Portugal, France), to recognize
the feminine suffrage. She shows her pride for Republican Spain “me enorgullezco de la
idea de que sea mi España la que alce esa bandera de liberación de la mujer” (lines 16-17).
She refers to the señores legisladores because at that time in the parliament there were only
2 women, victoria and clara.

DEVELOPMENT
Background
In order to understand the relevance of this text we should know what happened before.
Previous decades before the 2nd republic and this speech women were marginated from
society. They didn't have any role, they didn't have rights that could somehow protect them,
and they weren't allowed to participate in politics. Spanish women did not hold the same
status as men, since they were considered second class citizens. The vote margination
wasn't only for women, in the 1876 constitution there was a privilege suffrage, it wasn't until
1890 when it was accepted as universal male suffrage.

Nevertheless, that was the situation of Spain, however, not all the countries gained that right
at the same time. The first time women had the right to vote happened in New Zealand in
1893, Great Britain in 1918 and the United States in 1920 for instance. This was because of
the work of the suffragettes.

In 1931, at the very beginning of the 2nd Republic, a period of great expectations about the
achievements that could happen especially for women, the provisional Government
approved a decree in which women could be elected to participate in the parliament and be
a member of the 1931 constituent assembly although they couldn't vote. That decree is one
of the very first achievements of women in Spain, Clara Campoamor, victoria Kent and
Margarita Nelken became members of the parliament. During the drafting of the constitution
there were disagreements among the members of the parliament about several issues such
as secular state, giving the right to women…

Context
This speech was given during the drafting of the 1931 constitution. Clara Campoamor was a
Spanish politician, lawyer and feminist best known for her advocacy for women's rights and
suffrage during a member of the parliament.

In October 1931, she gave a speech in which she asked for a more equalitarian constitution
because she thought that the exclusion of women from voting was a violation of natural law.
She continued claiming and revindicating women's rights even though she didn't have the
support of hardly anyone. Her defense of women rights was opposed not only by political
conservatives and parties from the left but also from the two other women in the assembly.
Both thought that it wasn't the right moment for women to vote, due to the belief that
women's vote would be a conservative one. As Kant and Nelken were lefties, giving the vote
to women was the same as giving vote directly to the conservatives as they were dominated
by the church.

Apart from that, there were often many arguments that the left and right supported, such as,
women weren't capable of voting as they were mainly dominated by emotion and not
reflections. There was also thought that women lacked emotions, in political conscience and
education.

Clara Campoamor didn't resign and she continued being the only defensor of women in the
parliament asking for universal suffrage, equality and being the first latin country to give the
vote to women that in her thoughts was very revolutionary.

Consequences
After years of fighting Clara Campoamor and Spanish women received the right to vote they
have been asking for. Women could vote for the first time in the elections of 1933. An
equalitarian and a more free constitution was also proclaimed in 1931. Not only that,
marriage was equal between husband and wife, a divorce law was passed in 1931 and
better access to a more superior education was imposed. During the 2nd Republic, society
in general gained a secular democratic system based on equal rights for all citizens, with
provision for regional autonomy. However, this progress was banned due to the 1936
military uprising and civil war. With the victory of the National side in the civil war affected
hardly again in women, house mums and other workers women conditions. The backward
steps made during the civil war kept increasing in the long-run until the end. All the rights
were suppressed until the constitution of 1977. She later lost her parliamentary seat and
briefly served as a government minister.

CONCLUSIONS
The document has been very important in history, but above all for women it was a very big
step to achieve equality with men and not be on the sidelines of everything, it was a very
great gratification that women could go to vote, give their opinion… Because until that
moment, women had very limited rights and their role was just wife and mother. But this joy
did not last long since later in the civil war and under Franco they were once again left aside.
TEXT COMMENTARY Nº14
INTRO
The text we are going to analyze is the program of the Popular Front. It is a historical text,
the type of document is political and its content is also political. It was made by the Popular
front, which was an electoral coalition and pact of leftist parties that triumphed at the polls of
16 February 1936. The program was published for the public in El Socialista, the 16th of
January of 1936, a month before the elections and during the 2nd Republic.

ANALYSIS
The main idea of this text is that the Popular Front is presenting its electoral program,
because they are participating in the February 1936 elections. There, they explain the
commitments to the people and the agreements and disagreements between the coalition
components. In this case, the coalition refers to the electoral pact signed in January 1936, in
response to the growing threat of fascism in the 1930s, where leftist parties united. There
are also some secondary ideas that me should explain:

First of all, they promise to grant an amnesty to those accused of taking part in crimes after
November 1933, we can sense that it refers to the October revolution of 1934. Amnesty is
the official forgiveness of certain past offenses or crimes, providing legal protection from
prosecution.

Secondly, as a Republican state, they want to respect the constitution, because during the
black biennium it hadn't been like that: “(...)los partidos coaligados reestableceran el imperio
de la constitucion(...)” (lines 8-9).

Thirdly, they express the different points of view they have (republicans and socialists)
related to the nationalization of the lands. Socialists believe that lands should be nationalized
and given to their owners, but republicans don’t agree with that.

Then, they also emphasize the different opinions they have regarding the nationalization of
the banks. Republicans think that banks just need some improvements.

Finally, the republican parties defend the democratic freedom of the republic, which they
consider a regime driven by social interest and progress and not by social or economic
reasons. For these reasons, they oppose the workers’ control requested by the socialist
government, as it is mentioned in the text “la politica republicana tiene el deber de elevar las
condiciones morales y materiales de los trabajadores” (lines 20-21).

DEVELOPMENT
Background
In order to understand the relevance of this text we should take into account what happened
before.
After the proclamation of the 2nd Republic and the subsequent provisional government,
general elections were called in 1931, in which a coalition of republicans and socialists won.
During the Reoublican-Socialist government (1931-1933), Alcalá Zamora as the president, a
new constitution was approved. Series of reforms were carried out in order to improve Spain
´s situation (educational, military, agrarian, for instance). This governement ended after
november 1933 elections, won by the radicals and CEDA.

The triumph brought several consequences: polarization of the country, the rise of fascism,
the stop of the reforms previously made, amnesty for the ones arrested in the Sanjurjada…
Another consequence is the October revolution of 1934, due to the fear of CEDA fascism. In
it, more than 30.000 people were imprisoned, others suppressed, or even killed. Also, the
incident of Casas Viejes, where some peasants were protesting due to the agrarian reform
and they were finally killed by a Guardia de Asalto. It was a really conflictive period, and due
to the scandal of Estraperlo and other problems, Alcalá Zamora convoked new elections for
February 1936.

Context
New elections were convoked for February 1936, where the Popular Front took part. The
Popular Front was an electoral pact signed in January 1936, in response to the growing
threat of fascism in the 1930s. It was composed by republican left, PSOE, PCE, POUM,
UGT and Esquerra Republicana. Their cause represented the defense of democracy and the
republic, on the other hand, the right (CEDA, Falange Española, PNV, Renovación
Española) wanted to save the traditional values of catholicism.

Despite the Popular Front being the same coalition, there were disagreements on a number
of topics. But they unite all together with one objective, win the elections. The program
reflects the different views of the republicans and socialists regarding some aspects, such as
the nationalization of the banks or the lands.

Consequences
Finally, the Popular Front won the elections and Manuel Azaña was appointed president of
the Republic. In spite of winning, the difference of votes with the right was very little, so this
showed how polarized Spain was at that time. The new government started a reformist
action including the amnesty mentioned above, the restoration of the Catalan Statute,
generals suspected of coup were distributed all over Spain, the resumption of the land
reform and new statutes of autonomy.

The situation was becoming very tense, with violent street clashes between falangist groups
and militia socialists, communists and anarchists.

The military conspiracy against the Popular Front was advancing. Political leaders and
generals were uniting in order to start a coup.

It was a really violent period including the murder of Lieutenant Castillo and Calvo Sotelo.
The government of Casares Quiroga (right) began the rebellion against the republican
government in July 17, 1936. The partial success of the coup sparked the civil war.

This civil war was won by the nationals. In Spain a dictatorship was established ruled by
Franco. During this period only one party was allowed, the Falange Española. When Franco
died, a new constitution was made (the one that is running nowadays) and Spaniards were
able to choose their representatives.

CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, this text is relevant because it makes us understand the importance that the
formation of the Popular Front had in achieving the electoral victory of the left in the 1936
elections.. However, the republican reformist project was not able to achieve its goals,
because the conspiracy of the right had started several months ago.
TEXT COMMENTARY Nº15
INTRO
The text we are going to analyze is the statute of autonomy of the Basque Country of 1936.
It is a historical text, the type of document is legal and it has a varied content. It is a public
document and it was passed by the congress of deputies the 4 of October of 1936, during
the civil war. It was later published in the Gaceta de Madrid, the 7 of October of 1936, and in
the Diario Oficial del Pais Vasco, the 9 of October of 1936. Between the creators of this text,
we must highlight Indalecio Prieto and Jose Antonio Aguirre.

ANALYSIS
The main idea of this text is that the congress of deputies are decreeing and sanctioning the
Statute of Autonomy of the Basque Country of 1936. When we are talking about an
autonomy statute we refer to the legal document that grants self-governance to a specific
region within a country, defining its powers and responsibilities.. There are also some
secondary ideas that we should explain.

First of all, they started using the term Basque Country, to refer to Alava, Guipuzcoa and
Biscay as an entity. From that moment and on, they started being an autonomous region
inside the Spanish state, which means that they will have a degree of self-governance and
authority over certain aspects of its internal affairs. Apart from that, the vascuence, together
with the spanish, was considered an official language in the Basque Country. We can see
that in the text “El vascuence será, como el castellano, lengua oficial en el País Vasco(...)”
(lines 6-7).

Then, the article nº 5 explains that the Basque Country will have its own police corp to grant
legal protection and public order.

Thirdly, they explain how the powers of the Basque Country will be chosen. On the one
hand, the regional legislative institution will be selected by secret, direct and universal
suffrage. On the other hand, the executive institution will be chosen by the legislative and will
need to assume the representation of the region. Also, the Basques are who chose all that,
and everything should be done according to the constitution of the republic and the statute of
autonomy. That constitution refers to the one made in 1931 during the provisional
government of the republic, in it, significant advances were made such as the women's right
to vote or the divorce right.

Finally, they explain that during the civil war, a provisional government will be established.
The president of that government had to be chosen by the members of the municipalities
after the publication of the statute and within the next 8 days. That president had to be
approved by the governor of Biscay, which was the only province where the statute was
going to be applied, the only republican one. Then, the president will choose the members of
its government: “El presidente así elegido nombrará los miembros del Gobierno provisional”
(lines 25-26).

DEVELOPMENT
Background
In order to understand the relevance of this text we should know what happened before.
The desire for independence or autonomy was strong and on 17 August 1930, the Pact of
San Sebastian was signed, which recognized regional division and autonomy. One year later
a Republic was established in Spain, and the same day Aguirre established a Basque
Republic Federation linked to the Spanish Republic, imitating Macia's act in Catalonia. Work
to develop an autonomous autonomy statute began. The first project of Euzko kaskuntza
served as a model for the next two. The second, Lizarra's statute, was rejected because it
was too confessional and nationalist. The third, was drafted by the leftist Comisiones
Gestoras of the diputaciones and was a secular and leftist statute that was rejected by
Navarre. A simplified text was created excluding Navarre and it was about to be approved
when the right-wing parties won the elections in 1933. Overall, they were preparing very
rightist projects when the government was leftist, but once the project was leftist the
government became rightist.

The statute wouldn't be discussed again until the victory of the Popular Front in 1936. The
PNV supported the leftist coalition and the statute became a meeting point between the PNV
and the Popular Front. A statute commission was placed in the Cortes, of which Prieto
presided and Aguirre was the secretary. The statute was about to be approved but the civil
war started in July 1936.

Context
It is also important to understand what was happening at that time.
Upon the outbreak of the Civil War, the Popular Front needed the support of the PNV so the
process was accelerated and the statute was approved in the Cortes. By that time, Biscay
was the only province that remained loyal to the Republic so it applied only there. Alava
supported the national side at the start of the war and Gipuzkoa had been conquered one
month previously.

The statute was commissioned by Indalecio Prieto and Aguirre, and the conflictive aspects
proposed by Lizarra, such as the relationship with the Church, the Fueros restoration, the
10-year residence to be considered a Basque citizen and the unproportional election of
deputies, were removed.

In the statute of autonomy of 1936, the Basque Country was composed of Alava, Gipuzkoa,
and Biscay and was an autonomous region within the state, and both Euskera and Spanish
were recognized as the official languages of the territory.

The legislative power resided in the Lege Biltzarra, the Basque parliament, and the
executive power in the Eusko Jaurlaritza, the Basque government. Due to the war, a special
situation was established in the autonomy statute, whereby a provisional government would
rule during the war. The president would be elected by the municipalities and would be
approved by the Civil Governor of Biscay, as it was the only province where the statute
applied to at that time. The president would appoint its own government.

Consequences
The direct consequence of the decree was the election of Jose Antonio Aguirre as
lehendakari, who formed a mixed government with the representation of many political
parties. The isolation of the Basque Country from the rest of Republican Spain allowed the
Basque Government to act freely, creating a new currency, army (godarostea), flag
(ikurriña), police force, and even international policies with France and England.

The failed attempt to conquer the key defense point Villareal in Alava led the Basque
Government to prepare the defense of Bilbao with the construction of the Iron Belt, a vast
defensive belt surrounding Bilbao. However, the betrayal of the chief engine of the Iron Belt
Project, Alejandro Goicoechea meant the National side knew the weak points of the Iron Belt
and reached Bilbao through Artxanda the 19th of June 1937. The Basque Government went
into exile and there was repression during Franco's dictatorship for Basque people, culture
and language, including hispanized Basque names and abolishing economic agreements.
There would be no State of Autonomy until the Transition to Democracy when the 1978
Constitution that paved the way for the current Basque Statute, approved in 1979 in Gernika.

CONCLUSIONS
To conclude, this text was important because, following several attempts, it was the first
Statute of Autonomy approved, despite being under special war circumstances and short-
lived. It showed that the Basque Country could be self-governing.

This couldn't have been possible before the Second Republic and it wouldn't be until after
the end of Franco dictatorship, during the Transition to Democracy, that the current Basque
Statute would be approved.
TEXT COMMENTARY Nº16. NOOOO
INTRO
The text we are going to analyze is the decree-law of abolition of the economic agreements
in Biscay and Guipuzcoa. It is a historical text, the type of document is legal and it has a
political and economic content. It is a public document provided by Francisco Franco, the
leader of the nationals, in Burgos the 23 of June of 1937, 4 days after the fall of Bilbao
during the civil war. Then, a day after, it was published in the BOE.

ANALYSIS
The main idea of this text is that Franco is approving a decree law related to the abolition of
the economic privileges in Biscay and Guipuzcoa. There are also some secondary ideas that
should be explained.

First of all, it explains the situation of the Basque provinces. Until that moment, they were
privileged compared to the rest of Spain. That privilege refers to the economic agreement,
which imposed a special tax system after the abolition of the fueros in 1876. So the basque
provinces had to give a fixed amount of money to the state and the rest kept it for
themselves. Also, the basque people paid less taxes.

Secondly, it emphasizes how betrayed they feel, because in the national movement started
in july 17 (forces that went against the republic and won the civil war), they had the
opposition of Biscay and Guipuzcoa, as they were republican. So, they thought that they
didn’t deserve that generosity.

Thirdly, they consider Navarre loyal, because they didn’t use their privileges to go against
the nationals, that is why they kept the system there. Also, in Alava, the system will continue
as they were in the national side during the war, “(...) que el sistema vigente en la actualidad
en la provincia de Álava continúe subsistiendo(...)”(liines 17-18). However, the economic
agreement will be suppressed in Guipuzcoa and Biscay because they were not loyal to the
rebels.

Finally, Franco decides to put an end to the concerted regime, which were the economic
privileges accepted after the abolition of the fueros, but only in Biscay and Guipuzcoa. That
meant that from the next 1st of july those provinces will start paying all their contributions,
incomes, ordinary and extraordinary taxes to the state, just like the rest of the territories. We
can see that in the text: “(...)Queda por tanto, sin efecto en aquellas provincias, desde la
indicada fecha, el regimen concertado(...)”(lines 23-24).

DEVELOPMENT
Background
In order to understand the relevance of this text we must know what happened before.
During the Third Carlist War (1872-1876), the Spanish government abolished regional
fueros, including those in Biscay and Guipuzcoa, as part of efforts to centralize power.
Fueros were traditional privileges granting autonomy. As the Carlists, supporting regional
rights, were defeated, led to the suppression of these privileges.
Before the Spanish civil war (1936-1939), Spain faced intense political and social unrest.
The establishment of the second spanish republic in 1931 saw internal conflicts, including
regional disputies and ideological clashes between the right and the left. These tensions led
to the outbreak of the civil war in 1936, where republicans and nationals (led by franco)
battled.

Preceding the civil war, economic agreements called “concerts” were set up during the
second republic, particularly in the Basque Country (Biscay, Alava, Guipuzcoa and Navarre):
Alava and Navarre sided with the nationals during the war, while Guipuzcoa and Biscay
supported republicans.

Context
The economic agreements in the Basque Country, provided the regions with fiscal autonomy
instead of being subject to central government management, they could independently
govern and collect their own taxes. This autonomy, rooted in historical and cultural
considerations, acknowledged the unique identity of the Basque Country within the Spanish
state. It allowed for a decentralized fiscal policy, granting local authorities control over tax
revenues generated within their territories.

But at the time this decree-law was passed, Bilbao felt, so the whole basque country was in
the hands of the nationals. Guipuzcoa and Biscay were considered traitor provinces because
they were republican during the war. So as a political punishment franco decided to
suppress their economic privileges, also to establish a more centralized government.

Consequences
Franco’s decision to abolish the economic agreements in Biscay and Guipuzcoa during the
civil war had profound effects for these basque regions. The direct consequence of this
decree-law is the abolition of the economic agreement and the autonomy statute. These
agreements, granting significant fiscal independence, were suppressed as punitive
measures due to the perceived opposition during the war. But Navarre and Alava didn’t
receive those consequences. The repercussions were extensive:

Firstly, the move led to a centralization of fiscal power within the francoist government in
Madrid. But this loss extended beyond economic matters, contributing to a broader political
repression as Franco aimed to suppress regionalism and opposition.

Economically, the impact was big. The regions were now required to contribute their tax
revenue to the central government, affecting local initiatives such as development projects,
infrastructure and social programs.

Moreover the abolition has social and cultural implications. As part of Franco’s agenda to
create a more homogeneous Spain, regional languages and cultures were suppressed. This
reflected the regime’s attempt to exert control over regional diversity.

Later, in 1976, the autonomy was restored in the Gernika statute of autonomy. Also, in 1981,
a new economic agreement was drafted in order to grant economic self governance.
CONCLUSIONS
The text is important as it discusses the abolition of economic agreements in Biscay and
Guipuzcoa due to their role in the war. It emphasizes the end of the privileges except in
Navarre and Alava, so this caused big territorial differences and conflicts, only fixed when
they brought back the autonomy statute in 1979, which included the economic agreement
again.
TEXT COMMENTARY Nº17
INTRO
The text we are going to analyze is the political responsibilities law. It is a historical text, the
type of content is legal and it has a political content. It is a public document provided by the
national government, led by Franco (leader of the nationals), the 9 of February of 1939. It
was later published in the BOE the 13 of february of 1939, some months after the end of the
spanish civil war.

ANALYSIS
The main idea of this text is that the national government is sanctioning those who had not
supported the military coup. There are also some secondary ideas that should be explained:

Firstly, the government has decided to pass this law to blame those responsible for the war,
the red conspiracy or who rose up against Frenco´s politics and movement. Among that red
conspiracy,, the republicans, members and supporters of left wing political parties and labor
unions.

Secondly, it mentions the tribunal in charge of judging each person. It will be made up of
representatives of the army, the judiciary and the falange. These groups supported the
rebellious side of the waw.

Thirdly, the first article talks about holding people responsible for opposing the francoist
movement in Spain. It blames anyone who defended the republic between October 1, 1934
(october revolution), and july 18, 1936 (the start of the uprising): The october revolution
refers to the leftist uprisings, especially in Asturias, in response to the growth of fascism in
Spain.

Then, the law addresses organizations that go against the regime. According to the second
article, it outlaws all political parties from the popular front (the left wing coalition that won the
1936 elections) and any groups supporting it. Additionally, separatist groups and those
opposing the success of the national movement are also outlawed.

Finally, they emphasize the consequences for the ones involved. The third article says that
all the groups mentioned above will suffer those consequences. We can see that in the text:
“(...)sufriran la pérdida absoluta de sus derechos de toda clase y la pérdida total de sus
bienes.” (lines 22-23).

DEVELOPMENT
Background
In order to understand the relevance of this text we should know what happened before.
When the government of the right finished in February 1936, elections were convoked. For
those elections, a new left wing political coalition emerged, called the popular front. They
wanted to prevent the rise of fascism and it was composed by the republican left, PSOE,
PCE, POUM and esquerra republicana. They ended up winning the elections and a leftist
government was established. However, the conspiracy from the right was increasing and a
group of militars (Franco, Mola, Sanjurjo) initiated a coup in July 1936. But they failed the
coup and this led to the Spanish civil war.

In the civil war, spain was divided. On the one hand, the national side led by Francisco
Franco, and on the other hand, the republicans. The war was fought between the
republicans, who defended a democratic and progressive government, and the rebels, who
sought to establish an authoritarian regime. For 3 years, both sides clashed in a series of
battles, with foreign powers such as Germany and Italy supporting Franco, and the soviet
union supporting the republicans. The war was marked by indiscriminate bombings, political
repression and widespread violence. The ultimate goal of Franco was to nationalize all of
Spain and establish an authoritarian regime.

Context
At the time when this law was passed, February 1939, Catalonia fell and the war was lost for
the republicans. So they wanted to surrender with no reprisals but Franco pursued a policy
of revenge against the supporters of the republic.

Franco published this law in Burgos, the 13 of february of 1939. It declared guilty of a crime
of military rebellion, all of those who were members of the popular front from 1 october 1934
and all of those who opposed the military coup of 17-18 july.

Moreover, this law was retroactive, which meant that it could be applied back to October
1934. Among the features it included fines, expropriations, restriction of professional
activities, the limitation of freedom of residence and the loss of the spanish nationality.

Consequences
Among the consequences we must highlight the end of the war on the 1st of april of 1939
and the establishment of Franco’s dictatorship.

Related to this law, it was abolished in February 1945; but, before its abolishment 500.000
persons out of a population of 23.000.000 (1%) were subject to political responsibilities
proceedings. The way to find the collaborators was by looking at the electoral register,
targeting those who voted republican.

Also, the Franco government exercised repression, political persecution (imprisonment,

execution, exile), censorship, social control (public gatherings, strikes, demonstrations
restricted). education control, religious control…

This led to the growth of opposition to the regime. In the form of exile, underground
resistance (secret meetings), labor strikes, student movements, basque and catalan
nationalism…

CONCLUSIONS
Overall, this law was important for the Francoist regime in order to blame those responsible
for opposing the national government during the civil war.
Also, this law helped reduce the opposition to this regime.
TEXT COMMENTARY Nº18
INTRO
The text we are going to analyze is the law of protection of national interest industries. This
is a historical text, of legal type and has an economical content. It is a public text provided by
Franco, the dictator of Spain from the end of the civil war until his death in 1975. It was
published in the BOE the 25th of October of 1939, few months after the end of the spanish
civil war.

ANALYSIS
The main idea of this text is that Franco is passing the law of protection of national interest
industries to promote the creation and protection of those industries. There are also some
secondary ideas that we should explain:

Firstly, they refer to the civil war as the “gloriosa cruzada”, because the nationals were the
ones who won. During that period, from 1936 to 1939, they realized the relevance that
industries had.

Secondly, the situation of the Spanish economy was really bad after the war. That is why
they wanted to implement autarchy, which is an economic policy based on stopping the
imports and start producing as much as possible.

Then, they grant benefits and guarantees for the industries. By doing this, they want to
encourage the creation of industries and stop being dependent on foreign countries.

In the first article of this law, they give a definition of a national interest industry. Those will
be those who contribute to the development of both the basic needs of the country and the
needs of defense and reconstruction.

In the second article, they state that the national interest industries will have a series of
privileges granted by the state, such as tax reduction, the right of expropriation, fewer taxes
at aduanas, and the guarantee of a part of the capital. By doing this, many businessmen will
start being sympathetic to the regime to become a national interest industry and get those
benefits.

In the third article, they mention that in exchange for those benefits, the state will exercise
control over the industries.

Finally, the sixth article grants these companies the freedom to leave the national take off
plan whenever they want, but only when the economy gets stable. As it is said in the text:
“una vez asegurada la estabilidad y marcha económica de la sociedad, renunciar a los
beneficios, quedando libre la intervención” (lines 33.35).

DEVELOPMENT
Background
In order to understand the relevance of this text we should know what happened before.
Previous to the civil war, Spain was not an industrial country; which meant that it was not
really developed. We must highlight that its most important economic activity was
agriculture. Few industries existed and were mainly located in the Basque Country
(metallurgic industries) and Catalonia (textile industries).

The second republic brought some reforms in agriculture, to improve the situation of the
landless laborers. But the industries continued the same, not very developed.

The Spanish civil war divided Spain in two. The republican area was mainly composed of
industrial zones, with a large population and occupying the littoral and the big urban and
industrial areas. This area generated a higher rent, so higher consumerism.

The rebellious area, led by Franco, was mainly formed by rural areas. Which meant, unlike
the republican zone, an abundance of basic products. The industrial sector was scarce, but
this changed with the conquest of Biscay. They started having the complete steel and
metallurgical industrial totality.

This clearly influenced the development of the war, as the republican area faced problems to
feed its population and transport raw materials.

Context
When this law was passed, Spain was suffering the consequences of the civil war. More
than 300.000 people died, others exiled, damaged infrastructure, treasury was exhausted,
slight demographic recovery, shortage of basic products…

The country needed a reconstruction. That is why they decided to protect some industries,
the national interest ones. Among them we can find: chemical industry, cement, aluminum,
refineries, iron and metallurgical…

But the situation continued to be really bad. Due to the scarcity of basic products, the
government established rationing; but as a consequence of this, the black market appeared
(estraperlo): Also, famine and diseases appeared.

So, it was necessary to establish a new economic policy, the autarchy. This model was
based on economic self sufficiency. So the staple goods will be produced in the country,
avoiding imports. The state started controlling the whole economy: they set prices, created
new companies, approved imports and exports… They aim to increase the national
economic production.

Consequences
The economic recovery was really slow. Shortages, unemployment, starvation and low
wages were widespread in the early 1940s, a period which saw the worst inflation in Spain's
history. By the end of the decade, Spain's level of economic development was among the
lowest in southern europe.

Furthermore, due to Franco’s collaboration with the axis powers during WW2 and because
of the dictatorial nature of his regime deprived the country of the benefits of the Marshall
Plan, which was important for the rebuilding. This meant that the country was completely
isolated.
Growing pressure for industrial development forced the regime to modify its autarchic
policies, as it couldn’t be maintained forever.

Spain needed to establish some link to the international economy, to get food, raw materials,
credit, energy… Spain achieved this goal when the US decided to seek the political and
strategic advantages of Spanish friendship. The country’s economy got better.

The government of the falange didn’t want to open the regime to capitalist influences, but the
technocrats (opus dei) were in favor of economic integration with Europe in order to grow.
That is why in 1959 they proposed the stabilization plan (capitalist model, devaluation of the
peseta, extra hours reduced…). Spain’s economy transformed in the 1960s due to this plan,
also, Spain’s industrial and living standards increased. That period is known as
“desarrollismo” or “Spanish miracle”.

CONCLUSSIONS
To conclude, this law is important because Franco tried to promote the creation of industry
based on the national industry interest. The result of this economic policy was negative since
until 1950 growth was very slow due to the shortages. But it is considered relevant as it was
the first measures that Franco took for the reconstruction of the country and to end the
isolation.
TEXT COMMENTARY Nº19
INTRODUCTION
The text we are going to analyze is the resolution approved at the munich european
movement congress proposed by the 118 Spanish delegates. It is a historical text, of legal
type with a political content. It is a public text, provided by 118 delegates and approved in
Munich the 8 of June of 1962.

ANALYSIS
The main idea of this text is that the european movement congress of munich are approving
a resolution specifying the requirements for Spain for entering into the European common
market. There are also some secondary ideas that should be explained.

First of all, Spain’s technocrats were interested in entering Europe, but as it was a
dictatorship and not a democracy, it was necessary to have democratic institutions. There
were some conditions proposed by the European movement congress, which was born after
WW2 to transform the relations between the european states and citizens into a federal
european union.

The first condition was that Spain had to have democratic institutions so that people feel
represented.

The second condition was that all Spaniards had to have rights, but as it said in the text:
“(...)en especial los de la libertad personal y de expresión”(lines 10-11). So the gubernative
censorship had to end, that is, the strategy that the state used to control the media and
people’s thoughts.

The third condition was that the government had to recognise all the region's features.

The fourth condition was that the workers must have rights, such as the strike right. In this
paragraph, the sindical liberties refers to the freedom to create and belong to labor unions.

The last condition was that more than one political party was needed, as this wasn’t
respected by the francoist regime.

Finally, it is said that if Spain fulfills those conditions it may be part of thateurope. Also, those
spanish politicians who were taking part in the congress won’t have any reprissals, as it is
said in the text: “(...)con el compromiso de renunciar a toda violencia activa y pasiva antes,
durante y después del proceso evolutivo”(lines 24-26).

DEVELOPMENT
Background
In order to understand the relevance of this text we should know what happened before.
After the Civil War Francisco Franco established a dictatorship and supported the fascist
Axis powers during the 2nd World War. After they were defeated and Spain became the last
dictatorship in Europe, the democratic countries banned Spain’s entry in the UN. In view of
the isolation and devastation of Post War Spain, an autarchic model was set, although it
didn’t prove very effective as there were shortages, rationing and black market. Even if
opposition during this period was weak, the maquis’ guerrillas and the strike convoked in
Biscayan industry in 1947 by the opposition in exile are remarkable.

Then, in the 50’s there was an economic recovery since two major agreements were signed
in 1953: the Concordat with the Vatican and the most important, the Pacts of Madrid with
the USA, in which due to the Cold War Spain received economic aid because of its strategic
location near the USSR and the anticommunist stance.In 1957 Franco appointed the
technocrats as a new hegemonic group, who were members of the Opus Dei with great
knowledge on economy, and that in 1959 began the Stabilization Plan to adapt the Spanish
economy to the capitalist model. They thought that the economic improvement would end
the opposition to francoism but it kept growing. Technocrats soon saw the advantages of
entering the European Common Market, however, as in the NATO and the European
Community, their requests were rejected due to the necessity of political changes.

Context
The government of Franco made a second request in 1962, which was being discussed in
Munich the 7th and 8th June, when the event known as Munich conspiracy took place. 118
Spanish politicians of all trends, except PCE, both from inside Spain and in exile, such as
Salvador de Madariaga, Satrústegui or Gil Robles, denounced in the Congress held in
Munich the antidemocratic situation that Spain was living and asked for the removal of the
Francoist regime, even accepting a monarchy before Franco.

The resolution was that to join the European Common Market, Spain had to establish
genuine democratic institutions, guarantee rights of personal freedom, expression and
suppress censorship, recognize different regions and unions, since there was only one
union called the Vertical Syndicate, and legalize political parties, since the only legal one
was the Falange. It also asked that the Spanish delegates didn’t suffer any repression when
returning to Spain.

Consequences
Franco, angered by the sudden activism of the opposition to the regime that had been timid
until then, jailed, deported and exiled the participants as they returned to Spain and
suspended for two years the right to free residence guaranteed by the Labor Law. However,
this repressive reaction caused strong criticism abroad, particularly in the European
Economic Community, who rejected their request to join in 1962 for not being a democratic
state. When Franco realized that his reaction had been an error, he dismissed the Minister
of Information, Gabriel Arias Salgado.

Although, in response to the new request of 1964, the European Economic Community
agreed to hold a meeting with the government and by 1970 an agreement was signed,
which established lower tariffs on industrial products, thus, the commercial deficit began to
decrease. The conspiracy of Munich constituted the opposition during the 60’s that
extremely grew among the labor movement, university students, nationalists and even the
Church. The stagnation of Francoism hardened with the creation of TOP (Tribunal de Orden
Publico) that judged and condemned every opinion contrary to the regime.

However, opposition to the regime continued growing and more groups joined it, and many
factors increased the already-existing crisis by the last years of the regime, like the
International Oil Crisis, the attacks of ETA and FRAP, the confrontations with Añoveros or
the assassination of Carrero Blanco. The regime ended with the death of Franco in
November 1975 and the democratization of the State took place, where all the requisites for
being a democratic country were fulfilled, and finally, during the government of the PSOE,
Spain entered the EC in 1985 and NATO in 1981.

CONCLUSSIONS
In conclusion this text is important as it forced the regime to adopt a democratic semblance
and the European Community knew what the situation in Spain was and could put pressure
on Franco, as he was interested in being part of it.
TEXT COMMENTARY Nº20
INTRODUCTION
The text we are going to analyze is the state’s organic law of 1967. It is a historical text, of
legal type and it has a political content. It is a public text provided by Franco, the dictator of
Spain from 1939 until 1975, the 11 of january of 1967 in the BOE, during the desarrollismo.

ANALYSIS
The main idea of this text is that Franco is providing the organic law of the state to put an
end to the institutionalization process of the national state. There are also some secondary
ideas that should be explained:

Firstly, it explains the objective of this law, which was to end the institutionalization of the
state. This means setting up the organized structures and institutions that define how a
sovereign nation operates and governs itself.

Secondly, the characteristics of Spain as a nation are outlined in the first and second articles
of this law. It is stated that the Spanish state is a kingdom, serving as the principal institution
for the entire community.. Furthermore, it is emphasized that national sovereignty is
inseparable and not subject to transfer. This refers to the country's ability to govern itself
without outside interference, having its independence and control over internal matters.

Thirdly, the purposes of the State are outlined. Article three explains the objectives of the
State, which include the defense of the unity, integrity, independence, and security of the
nation. All of this needs to be carried out being loyal to the National Movement, which was a
set of forces that rose up against the Republic and won the civil war.

Then, the role of the Head of the State, that is Franco, is explained. Article six highlights that
it is the top representative of the country and has several tasks. These include being a
symbol of national sovereignty, making sure the laws are followed, approving and enforcing
laws, leading the military, ensuring justice, and handling official diplomatic tasks.

Finally, the role of the Head of the Government is explained. It is stated that the nationality
must be Spanish and that he will be appointed by the Head of State, in this case Franco.
Also, with the intervention of the council of the kingdom, as it is said in the text: “(...)a
propuesta en terna del Consejo del Reino”(line 27).

DEVELOPMENT
Background
In order to understand the relevance of this text we should know what happened before.
When the Spanish civil war ended in 1939 and was won by the nationals, Francisco Franco
established a dictatorship. During his regime, the constitution was not respected, but to give
that appearance of “democracy” and that people had rights he decreed 7 fundamental laws.
They were a set of laws organizing the powers of the Spanish state during the dictatorship of
Franco. The first one was made a year before the end of the civil war and it was related to
the duties of the citizens. Their function was to shape the country as Franco wanted. During
the years of WW2 three fundamental laws were passed, as Franco wanted to impress the
world's democratic powers and to make his regime appear less arbitrary.
Before the establishment of francoism, the law or set of laws that could have a similar
purpose as the fundamental laws was the Spanish constitution, in this case the one of 1931.
They both share the function of establishing the fundamental rules and principles to guide
the functioning of a country. However their content had nothing in common: constitutions
reflect democratic values and Franco’s laws wanted to maintain strict control over society.

Context
Before this point, all the government's power was firmly held by General Franco. However,
the introduction of this law was a big change because it started separating the roles of the
Head of State and the Head of the Government. This shift away from Franco's concentrated
authority showed a move toward a more varied way of governing.

Also, this legal change happened as Franco was getting older, so he was thinking about the
inevitable change in leadership. Recognizing the need to plan for the future and set up a
system for governing after Franco, the law was a strategic response to the challenges of
passing leadership to someone else. This planning aimed to make sure that the ideas and
political structure of Francoism would continue even after Franco was no longer in charge.

Moreover, at the time this law was passed, Spain was experiencing an economic boom
known as the “Spanish miracle”. This period of economic growth, from the late 1950s to the
early 1970s, was characterized by a surge in industrialization, tourism, and foreign
investments. Although the economy was in a good situation, not all Spaniards were, so
opposition was also growing and growing, for example coming from university students.

Consequences
As a consequence of this law, Franco appointed Prince Juan Carlos de Borbon as his
successor (Head of State) in 1969. This marked an important moment in the preparation for
a post-Franco era.

Then, in 1973, Carrero Blanco, a friend of Franco and aligned with the hardline of
Francoism, assumed the role of Head of the Government due to Franco's illness. However, it
didn't last long as he was assassinated by ETA that same year. Following this event, Arias
Navarro succeeded Carrero Blanco.

Finally, Franco died in 1975 and the transition to democracy started. Juan Carlos I ascended
to the position of Head of State, but contrary to expectations, he pursued a path of
constitutional monarchy. As Arias Navarro did not agree with this, he resigned.

The next years saw Spain changing from an authoritarian rule to democracy, commonly
known as the Spanish transition. Juan Carlos I played a crucial role in this process, aligning
himself with democratic principles and facilitating the establishment of a constitutional
monarchy. This period witnessed the drafting and approval of a new democratic constitution
in 1978, laying the foundations for modern democratic Spain.
CONCLUSSIONS
To conclude, this text was important because it marked an important change by separating
powers and adapting to changing circumstances, establishing the foundations for Spain's
transition to democracy after Franco's death in 1975.