-
-
Spain did not intervene in World War II and declared non-belligerent but it was on the Axis side. In 1940 Hitler met with Franco to persuade him to enter into the war, but it was denied. The Blue Division (supposedly volunteer troops) was created in 1941 to support the axis in Leningrad. After the war, the allies tried to overthrow Franco so they isolated Spain internationally denying their entry into the UN and France closed its border with Spain. -
Franco used institutions such as the National Wheat Service, which controlled the production and distribution and the National Institute of Industry whose objective was to increase industrial production.
The autarchy failed and there weren’t enough goods for the population. In the 1940s there weren’t enough goods, such as food, clothing or fuel. So they had to rationalise the good to the population. and savings were also encouraged. -
-
The United States considered that the Franco regime was anti-communist. For this reason, the Spanish isolation was paused. In 1953 a treaty was signed with the United States that declared a friendship which allowed the installation of US military bases in Spain and Spain was admitted to FAO, UNESCO and the UN. Which allowed the French border to be reopened and the embassies were once again installed in Spain. -
The situation forced Franco to make changes. "La Falange" lost influence. FET y de las JONS was renamed the National Movement and the political system was proclaimed democracy even if in the reality, the dictatorship remained. This opening caused riots in 1956 in the University of Madrid and worker's made strikes in Asturias and Catalonia. -
The economic changes and tourism helped to the social changes like the growth of the middle class, greater incorporation of women into the world of work and less influence of the Church in daily life.
In politics ministers with more moderate ideas were elected. The Social Security Act and the Press and Printing Law were approved, which reduced censorship. In 1969, Franco appointed Juan Carlos de Borbón as his successor as king. -
-
The Communist Party proposed unification among all the parties that opposed the dictatorship. The collaborators met in Munich in 1962, where they made a document condemning the dictatorship. In 1974, the PSOE started a reorganization in France and elected Felipe González as general secretary. Associations like the Democratic Board of Spain or the Democratic Convergence Platform were created and organized the opposition to the regime. -
After all the strikes and problems,
the Franco regime reacted with repression: it increased arrests and deaths that affected people of ETA and FRAP.
The Spanish Sahara claimed independence. Morocco took advantage and annexed it. Franco died in 1975. -
-
Adolfo Suárez carried out the reforms and the implementation of the democratic system where political plurality and individual rights and freedoms were approved. He approved the Law for Political Reform and gave amnesty for political prisoners, legalized political parties, including the Communist Party, and called elections for 1977. -
1978 constitution declares that:
-Spain is defined as a democratic state
-It is recognized that national sovereignty resides in the Spanish people,
-The political form of the state is the parliamentary monarchy.
-The separation of powers is established
-Numerous rights and freedoms are recognized.
-The unity of the Spanish State is affirmed, but the possibility of creating Autonomous Communities is contemplated. -
-
PSOE won the elections by the majority in 1982 and until 1996 the socialist governments kept winning led by Felipe González. It is the longest period of Government by a party in the history of Spain. In 1982 the Spanish political situation was unstable. Democracy was not well established and there was a possibility of a coup. -
At the end of the 1980s, the socialist government was not as popular as before. This was because of the economic situation and the increase in unemployment and corruption where some people of the PSOE were involved. PSOE won the 1993 elections but did not achieve an absolute majority. In 1996 they lost the general elections
