SPAIN IN 20TH

CENTURY
SPAIN EARLY 20TH CENTURY part 1
The start of the 20th century was the continuation of the restoration, which began
when Alfonso XII became King in 1874. The Restoration ended in 1923, when Primo
de Rivera became dictator. In 1931 the Second Republic was established.
After Alfonso XII died in 1885, Spain was ruled by his wife María Cristina until
Alfonso XIII turned 16 in 1902. During Alfonso XIII´s reing Spain experience political
and social conflict.
• The Liberals and Conservatives continued to take turns in goverment. However,
other parties opposed them: republicans parties, nationalist parties in Cataluña
and País Vasco, and the Socialist party.
• Workers demanded better working conditions. There were many strikes.
• Spain was involved in military conflict in its new colonies in Morroco.
 SPAIN EARLY 20TH CENTURY part 2
Because of these problems, there was a military coup in 1923. With Alfonso
XIII´s support, General Miguel Primo de Rivera established a dictatorship.
• The constitution was suspended and the King lost most of his powers.
• Political parties became illegal.
• Freedom of the press was limited by censorship.
At first, many people supported Primo de Rivera´s dictatorship. Later on
there was opposition from the army and from Alfonso XIII. Primo de Rivera
resigned in 1930.
THE SECOND REPUBLIC
The Second Republic began in 1931 when the Republicans and Socialist
won the municipal elections. The monarchy was abolished. Manuel
Azaña became president. There was a new constitution and Spain
became a democracy: all men and woman could vote.
The church lost control of education. Public schools were established.
There was more regional autonomy. There was a statute of autonomy
for Cataluña.
Te goverment took land from big landwners. They planned to give it to
por farmers. These reforms divided Spanish society and caused political
conflict. Left-wing people generally supported the changes. However
right-wing people opposed these change.
THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR
• In July 1936 the Second Republic began in Spanish Morroco. Its leader
was Franco. The rebels took control of parts of Spain. The country
became divided between areas controlled by the rebels and areas
controlled by the Second Republic.
The rebellion quikckly became a civil war which affected all of Spain.
Franc and the Nationalist were opposed to the changes that the Second
Republic had introduced. They wanted to replace the republic with a
righ-wing dictatorship. The Republicans supported the Second Republic.
The war ended in 1939 as a result of Nationalist victory.
CONSEQUENCES OF THE WAR
• Around 365 000 people died.
• People were impresioned or killed Because of their opinions
(Nationalist who lived in the Republican zones, and Republicans who
lived in Nationalist zones).
• Roads, bridges, railways and buildings were destroyed.
• People became ill Because there wasn´t enough food.
• Many Spanish children were sent to other countries to keep them
from the conflict. Some of these childrens never saw their families
again.
DURING FRANCO´S DICTATORSHIP
After the Nationalist won the Spanish Civil War, Franco established a
dictatorship. He made himself the head of state and of the goverment, and
Caudillo (leader) of Spain. He took complete control of the country´s politics,
economy, religión and laws.
Franco´s dictartorship was based on three pillars: the military, the Catholic
Church and the Falange.
The constitution was abolished and there were no more democratic
elections.
• Political parties became ilegal.
• Trade unions also became illegal and Workers lost their rights.
• There was no regional autonomy. Power was concéntrate in the central
goverment.
Many people who opposed Franco left Spain. They went to live in France or
United Kindom. Republicans who stayed in Spain were impresioned or killed.