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The first stage of Franco's Dictatorship
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The Falangists had a lot of influence in the first stage of Franco's dictatorship. The population was framed in numerous organizations that depended on FET and the JONS, for example, the National Trade Union Organization. Inside this organization was the Youth Front (which was founded in 1940), which had the purpose of indoctrinating young Spaniards by offering stays on the beach, excursions..etc in order to attract them. -
Franco imposed an autarchy, which aspired to make Spain self-sufficient. To achieve it, Franco used two institutions, the National Wheat Service (which controlled the production and distribution of wheat) and the National Institute of Industry IND, (whose objective was to promote industrial production, although it failed). The Spanish economy was unable to meet the population's needs and the 1940s were marked by shortages of basic products. -
With the Cold War happening, the United States considered that Franco's regime was, above all the other terrible things, anti-communist. Therefore, Spain could become an ally. Because of this, the Spanish isolation was stopped at the end of the 1940s. The French border was reopened and the embassies were once again installed in Spain. -
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The maquis were anti-dictatorship guerrillas who moved through isolated mountain areas. Its name refers to the dense Mediterranean scrub (which served them to hide). They fought against Franco's regime until the early 1950s. -
In universities, the student movement earned strength. Intellectuals and artists began to openly express their rejection of Franco's regime. The first university protest was held in Madrid in 1956. It demanded the recognition of freedoms in Spain. This protest paved the way for others alike, in the 1960s the demonstrations multiplied. -
Developmentalism was a period of economic growth and meant an improvement in the standard of living of a lot of the Spanish. New electrical appliances and cars arrived in middle-class homes. Tourism changed social behavior and leisure.
This led to population growth (higher birth rate and lower mortality) Franco's regimen applied a natalist policy that awarded prizes to large families. The transformations in the countryside caused an intense rural exodus. -
The economic crisis and increased opposition coincided with the political crisis. Franco’s health was decaying rapidly. He was facing the possibility of his death but he wanted his regimen to keep going. For this, he appointed Admiral Luis Carrero Blanco head of government to
guarantee continuity However, ETA assassinated Carrero that same year. -
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Franco dies and Juan Carlos I was crowned King of Spain assuming the leadership of the State. In his proclamation speech, he expressed his desire to establish a democratic system in Spain, although he kept Arias Navarro as head of government. However, progress toward democratic structures was too slow so the opposition expressed its discontent in demonstrations. -
After the death of General Franco, Juan Carlos I was crowned King of Spain and assumed the leadership of the State.
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In July 1976, the king forced Arias Navarro to resign. The new president of the Government was Adolfo Suárez. He carried out a lot of reforms that started the implementation of the democratic system in Spain (where political plurality and individual rights and freedoms were guaranteed).The first step was the approval of the Law for Political Reform. Later, the Suárez government decreed an amnesty for political prisoners, legalized political parties and called elections for June 1977. -
The 1977 elections gave the victory to the Union of the Democratic Centre, UCD, (led by Adolfo Suárez). The PSOE was the second most voted party, followed by
the Communist Party (PCE), Popular Alliance (now known as PP), and the Catalan and Basque nationalist parties. With the new Government, the parties represented in Parliament and the unions signed the Moncloa Pacts to address the country’s serious economic crisis. -
With the 1978 constitution, the division of powers is created. Firstly we have the Cortes Generales. It's made up of two
chambers, the Congress of Deputies, and the Senate. The legislative power is exercised by the Government The executive power is exercised by the judges and magistrates (the judiciary). -
Under the government of PSOE, the 1978 Constitution is drafted. Its principles were:
-Spain is defined as a social and democratic state of law.
-It recognized that national sovereignty resides in the Spanish people, who choose their representatives in the Government through universal suffrage in free elections.
-Spain is a parliamentary monarchy.
-The separation of powers is established,
-Numerous rights and freedoms are recognized.
-The unity of the Spanish State is affirmed. -
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With the end of the dictatorship, nationalist sentiments grew in Catalonia, the Basque Country, and Galicia. The Generalitat of Catalonia was reinstated, and the General Basque Council and the Xunta de Galicia were established. This began a desire for autonomy in other regions After the approval of the Constitution, the autonomous model was defined. The process of granting the different Statutes of Autonomy, approved by the Cortes, began in 1978 but officially ended in 1983. -
At the same time that Spain decided to remain in NATO, the process of joining the EEC was resumed. To do this, the PSOE strengthened ties with the countries that could favor entry into the organization (France, Germany, and the UK) and adopted hard measures to clean up Spain's economy and make it more competitive (because other countries had a higher level of development.) Later, Spain signed the Accession Treaty in 1985 but it entered into force in 1986.