Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for History

CNT (Confederación Nacional del Trabajo)

Anarcho-autonomous union movement in Spain, affiliated with the AIT (International Workers' Association). Founded in Barcelona in 1910.

CONFE ALGE

International Confederation. A congress held in Paris between January 16 and April 7, 1906, which saw divisions between French and Spanish factions.

Cucuta Incident

A satirical newspaper in Cucuta mocked the armed forces. In 1905, a military group from Barcelona assaulted the newspaper's premises.

Annual Disaster (Annual Desastre)

A grave Spanish military defeat against the Riffian forces commanded by Abd-el Krim in 1921. This event led to a redefinition of Spain's colonial policy in the Rif.

Economic Market (Eco Market)

An economic system developed by private companies... Continue reading "Spanish Political and Military Events: 1905-1930" »

Key Figures and Conflicts in the Romance

The Grand Turk, enemy of Tirant (Pulling), attacks the Greek Empire and lays siege to Constantinople.

Character Descriptions

• Count Varoic, The Hermitage Knight

  Known by his English name, he deceives his 55-year-old wife and servants into believing he died, when in fact he withdrew to a contemplative life. He teaches Tirant (Pulling) about the order of knighthood.

• Leader of the High Dignitary of Trema

  He leads the *cabdillos* (chieftains) who rescue the imprisoned after Tirant (Pulling) causes the wreckage. Later, he asks for help, even though they remain faithful to Islam.

• Princess Maragdina (Tremissen)

  A Christian princess who loves Tirant and ends up marrying her kidnapper.

• Escariano, Great King of Ethiopia

  He

The Build-Up to the Spanish Civil War: 1934-1936

The Aftermath of the 1934 Uprisings

The IZDAS LIFT-10-34 was a counter-reaction to strikes and armed uprisings, most notably in Asturias and Catalonia. In Catalonia, the unrest had a political nature, with a communist general strike and Luis Companys proclaiming a Catalan Republic within Spain, which was quickly dissolved. In Asturias, the uprising had a social and revolutionary character, aiming to replace the bourgeois republic with a workers' state. This was driven by a pact between the CNT and UGT, symbolized by the initials UHP (Union of Proletarian Brothers), to fight against the bourgeoisie. The army, with civilian elements brought from Africa by Franco, was used to suppress the uprisings.... Continue reading "Spanish Civil War Origins: 1934-1936 Political Unrest" »

The Democratic Junta Manifesto (1974)

This political text, the Democratic Manifesto of the Junta, is chronologically situated on July 29, 1974, barely a year before the death of General Franco. Its authorship belongs to various political forces united in opposition to the Franco regime.

Composition and Goals of the Junta

The Junta Democrática de España (Democratic Junta of Spain) was a democratic body formed by the opposition to Franco. It was composed of:

• Communist Party of Spain (PCE)
• Workers' Commissions (CCOO)
• Carlist Party
• Popular Socialist Party (PSP)
• Working in Spain (a reference to specific labor movements)

This document, intended for general dissemination, presented twelve crucial points outlining the pattern for political change in Spain.... Continue reading "The 1974 Democratic Junta Manifesto: Blueprint for Spain's Transition" »

Cánovas and the Constitution of 1876

Cánovas was instrumental to the Constitution of 1876. Even during the Revolutionary Sexenio, Cánovas had bet on the idea of the Restoration of the Bourbon monarchy in the person of Alfonso XII, son of Isabel II. He admired the way in which the British had managed to introduce a new liberal monarchy, bourgeois, bipartisan, which shared power with Parliament. He managed to create a similar model in Spain after the adoption of the Constitution of 1876 and consolidated the two-party system.

From January 1875 until the adoption of the Constitution of 1876, Cánovas had the dual mission of chairing the first government of King Alfonso XII and preparing to implement the new constitution that would bring all ideological... Continue reading "Cánovas and the Constitution of 1876: Restoration Era" »

Key Terms of Francoist Spain

Understanding the vocabulary of Francoist Spain is essential for grasping the complexities of this historical period. Here are some key terms:

The Blue Division

Spanish military union volunteers who fought on the Russian front during World War II, between 1941 and 1944.

The National Institute of Industry

Established in the postwar period to promote industrial development.

Ration Cards

Cards that were distributed among the population to buy staples.

Black Market

Speculators were selling products illegally at excessively high prices, often double or triple the official market price.

Opus Dei

An institution of the Catholic Church founded by José María Escrivá in 1941. It consists of religious and secular members, and its main... Continue reading "Key Terms of Francoist Spain: Understanding the Era" »

Key Historical Terms Defined

• Planned Economy

  An economic system where the state regulates the production process and distribution of goods.

• Marshall Plan

  A U.S. strategy to revive European countries. Its economic objectives included improving the standard of living in Europe and boosting European demand.

• COMECON (Council for Mutual Economic Assistance)

  Created in 1949, its aim was to coordinate the economic policies of Eastern European countries and establish mutual assistance agencies.

• NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization)

  A treaty organization created in 1949.

• Warsaw Pact

  A treaty of friendship, cooperation, and mutual assistance signed in 1955.

• Star Wars (Strategic Defense Initiative)

  A draft initiative for strategic defense that proposed

Argentinian Societal Shifts

Middle Class Consolidation: The Golden Age

Argentinian society underwent significant changes. The urban population increased, leading to the consolidation of the middle class. Buenos Aires experienced substantial growth, and new cities emerged. Technology was introduced into rural work, although many areas in the north saw little change. Workers sought to improve their living conditions. State growth, economic prosperity, and advances in the education system during the 1920s contributed to the formation of the middle classes. This period is often referred to as the Golden Age.

Society Amidst Crisis

The industrialization process and the national crisis led to the displacement of workers, causing migration to cities. These... Continue reading "Argentina 1920s-1930s: Society, Politics & Economic Crisis" »

The crisis of the Old Regime was influenced by several key factors and ideas, leading to significant political and social transformations.

Influences on the Old Regime's Crisis

The Enlightenment's Impact

The ideas of the Enlightenment challenged absolutism. They proposed that sovereignty resides in the people, particularly the emerging bourgeoisie.

Division of Powers in Practice

Putting Enlightenment ideals like the division of powers into practice aimed to replace the nobility as the dominant group, guiding liberal or bourgeois revolutions.

Early Liberal Revolutions

The first liberal revolutions included the American Independence, the French Revolution, and movements in Europe and the Spanish colonies in America.

Principles of the New Liberal Order

Liberal

Spanish Civil War: Uprising and Outbreak (1936)

The Spanish Civil War began with an uprising in Melilla in 1936. It quickly spread throughout the Protectorate of Morocco, and subsequently to the Peninsula and archipelagos. The government of Casares Quiroga reacted slowly. The main architects of the uprising were Generals Mola, Franco, and Sanjurjo. Franco moved from the Canary Islands to Morocco to take command of the Legion. After a plane crash that killed Sanjurjo, the National Defense Council was formed to direct the military operations of the Nationalist side.

Nationalist Successes and Failures

The coup succeeded in:

• Galicia
• Castilla-León
• Navarra (with General Mola in Pamplona)
• Western Andalusia (with Queipo de Llano in Seville)
• Balearic Islands