Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and exercises for History for Baccalaureate

The Spanish Constitution of 1869: A Democratic Turning Point

Document Analysis: Nature and Type

This document is a primary source, directly reflecting the historical period of its creation. As a legal text, it is characterized by its impersonal, timeless, and structured nature.

Historical Context: Glorious Revolution & 1869 Constitution

The democratic Constitution of 1869 emerged from a period of significant political upheaval in Spain.

The despotic policies of the Moderate Party, supported by Queen Isabel II, led to the formation of a broad opposition coalition at the Pact of Ostend (1866). This alliance included Progressives, Democrats, and Unionists (Liberal Union, 1867). Coupled with the economic crisis of 1866, these factors culminated...

Franco Anarchy in the Rural World

The first main idea stated in the text is the reference to Franco Anarchy in the rural world. This refers to the occupations of large estates by laborers after the Popular Front victory in February 1936. The government, instead of evicting the residents, justifies its action, associated with the new agrarian reform established.

Political Violence and Ideological Extremes

Menciona too many crimes and assaults that had occurred in the spring of 1936. This climate of political violence had been promoted from the ideological extremes of both the left and the right, eager to promote a situation to push the military to seize power. The events of July 13, particularly the murder of Calvo Sotelo in retaliation for the...

The Tragic Week of 1909: Barcelona's Violent Uprising

The Tragic Week (1909) refers to a series of violent events that took place in July 1909 in Barcelona and Catalonia. These events began with demonstrations and a general strike, promoted by anarchists, socialists, and radicals associated with Alejandro Lerroux, which quickly escalated into a spontaneous and violent insurrection. The city was paralyzed: barricades were erected, trams were overturned, communications with the rest of Spain were cut off, and over 50 churches and convents were burned.

Causes of the 1909 Tragic Week

• Protest against the Colonial War in Morocco: The Catalan government's call for reservists to join an expedition in Africa sparked widespread anger. These reservists had

The Second International

The Second International was founded in Paris as an ideologically homogeneous organization, as only socialist parties were permitted to join. It established the Socialist International Bureau to provide continuity for the tasks assigned by the Congress, defining the objectives and actions of the international socialist movement.

Core Resolutions and Principles

The resolutions adopted at the Congress demanded laws to protect workers, specifically advocating for an 8-hour workday and the abolition of child labor. The organization condemned war and encouraged workers to join socialist parties. Furthermore, the International established enduring principles, including:

• Labor market regulation
• The end of sexual discrimination
• The

Liberal Revolutions (1820-1848)

During the period of the Restoration, liberals organized into secret societies, inheriting ideals from the Enlightenment and the French Revolution. These groups advocated for uprisings against absolutism, leading to several waves of revolution across Europe.

The Revolutions of 1820

The first revolutionary wave, spanning from 1820 to 1824, represented an initial challenge to the Restoration system. Brief liberal periods emerged in countries such as Spain, Portugal, Naples, and Piedmont. However, these movements were ultimately suppressed by the direct intervention of the Holy Alliance in 1823, marking an initial failure for the liberal cause.

The Revolutions of 1830

The second wave of revolutions, occurring between...

The Rise and Fall of Real Socialism

The establishment of socialism as a political-economic system was meant to quell and quench the system that prevailed in late nineteenth-century capitalism. Socialist ideas aimed to implement a more just and egalitarian society. From there, the ideas of the socialist system spread throughout the world, and many countries implemented them.

The Reality of Soviet Socialism

In the Soviet Union and throughout Eastern Europe, real socialism was established, marked mainly by the massive participation of the state. This fact gave rise, to some extent, to a somewhat dictatorial system in which political decisions lacked popular participation. Freedom of expression was suppressed by the officers who concentrated power...

The Moderate Decade in Spain (1844-1854)

The Moderate Decade (1844-54) saw moderate progressives commissioned to dismantle the old regime, succeeding the liberal regime. Donoso Cortes emerged as the key theorist of conservatism during this period.

Stabilization and Constitutional Reform

The primary goal was to stabilize the new order by reforming the Constitution of 1837. Under Narváez, reforms focused on limiting press freedoms through censorship and establishing a centralized administration that granted greater power to the crown. The National Militia was disbanded, and the Civil Guard was created in 1844. The current ministerial organization dates back to this era.

Judicial and Legal Framework

The Supreme Court was established as the apex of...

Liberal Society and the Restoration

As liberal law was established and the first manufacturing facilities emerged, a modern industrial society of classes began to form. With the abolition of traditional privileges, social divisions were redefined based solely on wealth.

The Upper Classes and Economic Dominance

The primary beneficiaries of the liberal regime were the aristocracy. Although the old nobility of the Ancien Régime ceased to exist as a legally privileged class during the first half of the 19th century, they maintained their economic dominance through vast real estate holdings that generated significant national income.

Land Ownership and Agricultural Practices

• Large Estates: The nobility retained ownership of extensive farms dedicated

The Liberal Triennium: Political Factions

From its inception, the Liberal Triennium was defined by two primary political trends:

• Moderate Doceañistas: Advocated for reforms primarily based on census suffrage.
• Exaltados: Held more radical positions and favored immediate, decisive action regarding census suffrage issues.

Opposing these groups were the absolutists—who existed in smaller numbers—and the Monarch. While King Ferdinand VII nominally accepted the Triennium, he maintained his absolutist stance, obstructing the development of new legislation. This period was marked by constant political conspiracies and exiles supported by the Holy Alliance.

Legislative Reforms and Achievements

Despite the challenges of maintaining power during this three-...

Restoration of Absolutism under Ferdinand VII

Ferdinand VII returned to power through the Royal Decree of May 4, 1814, which annulled the Constitution and laws of Cádiz, marking a return to absolutism. Simultaneously, the Congress of Vienna worked to restore the old order in Europe, establishing the Holy Alliance to guarantee the defense of absolutist regimes and the right of intervention in any country.

Ferdinand VII faced the monumental task of rebuilding a nation shattered by war. The country suffered from several critical issues:

• Paralyzed trade and agricultural decline.
• National financial bankruptcy.
• Colonies fighting for their independence.
• A high number of human and material losses that left farmers ruined.

The Liberal Triennium: 1820 to 1823

On...