Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and exercises for History for Other courses

Economic Development 1959-1975

In the 1950s, the situation created by economic autarchy was untenable, and the system showed serious signs of decay. By 1957, the country was almost on the verge of bankruptcy. Inflation, shortages of foreign exchange, and trade deficits forced a change in economic policy.

The 1959 Stabilization Plan

In 1957, a new government incorporated Opus Dei ministers such as Ullastres and Navarro Rubio. They introduced an economic reform through the Legislative Decree of "New Economic Organization," which became the Stabilization Plan of 1959, designed as indicated by IMF and World Bank technocrats. This plan aimed to:

• A) Contain inflation, liberalize the economy, reduce state intervention, and achieve openness to the outside

1. Political Developments in Francoist Spain

A) The Postwar Period: The 1940s

The institutionalization of the regime was achieved through a series of decrees that expanded Franco's power. This included the restructuring of the central state administration, which established ministries and allowed Franco to approve decree-laws without government deliberation. Six fundamental laws completed this institutional work:

• 1. Labor Charter (Fuero del Trabajo): Forbade class unionism and placed industrial relations under the Falange. Despite successes such as social insurance, workers lacked channels to defend their rights due to the absence of negotiation and agreement.
• 2. Law of the Cortes (1942): Established a chamber elected by indirect suffrage through

Crisis of 1808: War and Independence Politics

The Precursors to Conflict

In late 1807, the economic and social situation in Spain was serious. This culminated in the bankruptcy of social groups. Indignation was directed against the opposition to Godoy. The opposition took shape around Prince Fernando. In October, the conspiracy of El Escorial was first discovered.

Treaty and Invasion

On October 19, the Treaty of Fontainebleau was signed between the Spanish government and France, which authorized the French army to cross Spain en route to Portugal. This was done because Spain refused to comply with the Continental Blockade against England, as decreed by Napoleon. Subsequently, France invaded Spain.

The Mutiny and Royal Abdications

From March 17 to...

Spain's Post-War Economic Challenges

On the economic front, Spain went through a period of misery and backwardness over the years. This extended the gap with Western European countries, as Spain was marginalized from the Marshall Plan—the U.S. aid for rebuilding the European economy after the end of World War II.

The Era of Autarchy and Isolation

This new economic policy was characterized by autarchy, because Franco wanted to increase the production of the Spanish economy and reduce imports to create jobs. The state became heavily involved, as important economic sectors passed to the State. However, all these measures were ineffective.

Agricultural Crisis and the Black Market

Farm policy was a disaster, as it coincided with the drought of 1946;...

The Oil Crisis

Causes

• The creation of Israel in the Middle East provoked resistance from Arab countries, some of which had abundant petroleum reserves.
• The following decades were marked by 4 Arab-Israeli wars, making the region a hotbed of instability.
• The most significant fighting was the Yom Kippur War in 1973.
• Israel's victory, supported by the U.S., prompted OPEC members to reduce oil exports to the West, leading to a worldwide energy crisis.
• High oil prices led to increased production costs and resulted in an increase in the selling price of products.

Implications

• The stagnation of production and increased inflation.
• Unemployment rates reached very high levels and started to look like a problem without a solution for states.
• States cut social spending