Notes, abstracts, papers, exams and problems of History

The Background: The First Two Cuban Wars

Taking advantage of the October Revolution of 1868, part of the native bourgeoisie, along with mestizos and freed slaves, staged an independence and abolitionist movement. One of its leaders, Carlos Manuel Céspedes, staged the uprising known as the Grito de Yara, initiating the First Cuban War or the Ten Years' War (1868-1878). After ten years of fighting between rebels and Spanish troops, the Peace of Zanjón was signed by General Martínez Campos. It offered an amnesty to captured rebels and promised more autonomy for the island. However, these promises were ultimately not met.

The Second Cuban War (1879), known as the Little War, was brief and had limited impact. Since then, Cuban trade became increasingly... Continue reading "Cuban Independence: The Three Wars for Freedom" »

(D) Blue Division

The Blue Division was a unit of Spanish volunteers who served from 1941 (and officially until 1943) in the German camp during World War II, mainly on the Eastern Front against the Soviet Union.

(I) National Industry Institute

Created in 1941, the National Industry Institute was a state entity created by Spaniard Juan Antonio Suances to promote industrial development in Spain. Numerous public companies were created through the INI.

(L) Organic Law of the State

The Organic Law of the State (1967) was enacted during the third stage of the Franco regime, a government in which most of the power was held by the technocrat family. Along with seven other fundamental laws of the regime, it ensured the process of institutionalizing the Franco... Continue reading "Key Terms and Institutions of Francoist Spain" »

The Great European Powers 1870-1914

Between 1870 and 1914, the imperialist or colonialist policy launched by major European powers created rivalries between countries outside Europe that triggered the First World War.

In Western Europe

The United Kingdom, at the end of the Victorian era, continued to be the trading power and financial center of the world. France remained among the major powers, and Germany acceded to this category due to the strong development of its industry, which became the leading economic power in Europe.

Outside Europe

Two new powers were consolidated outside Europe. The United States, after the Civil War (1861-1865), became a great industrial power. Japan's rapid industrialization began, raising its weight in the Pacific... Continue reading "European Powers and International Relations: 1870-1914" »

The Nationalist Government During the Spanish Civil War

The Nationalist government accepted some drastic measures: the establishment of a war state in all the territory, the suppression of all freedoms, and the dissolution of all political parties except for the Phalange and Carlist requetes.

At this moment, the Nationalist propaganda aimed at justifying the coup d'état against a legally elected government. They qualified their movement as a National Pronouncement against a Marxist and anti-Spanish republic, and their fight was known as a crusade to liberate Spain from atheism.

The economic measures were aimed at a double purpose: to cancel all the Republican reforms and the intervention of the state in the economy.

The need for a unique direction... Continue reading "Spanish Civil War: Impact, International Aid, and Aftermath" »

The Outbreak of Civil War

On July 17, 1936, a civil war erupted in Melilla, Ceuta, and Tetuan, and on July 18th, it spread to mainland Spain. An important sector of the army (Franco, Queipo de Llano, Mola, etc.), along with traditionalists and Falangists, staged a coup. The rebels seized control of governing bodies in some cities and established a board of military officers, intending to restore order and suppress popular unrest. Within two days, the rebels had secured several forts.

On July 19th, José Giral decided to arm militias (volunteer groups) of unions and parties of the Popular Front to stop the coup and defend the Republican government. General Goded led the uprising in Catalonia, but it received little support from the civilian population.... Continue reading "Spanish Civil War: A Nation Divided (1936-1939)" »

Cultural Splendor: The Spanish Golden Age

The 17th century, a period of artistic and cultural wealth, is known as the Spanish Golden Age. This period contrasts sharply with the serious political, economic, and demographic crises that plagued the country. From the late 16th to the mid-18th century, the Baroque cultural movement, originating in Italy and patronized by the absolute monarchy and the Papal State, flourished in Spain. Spanish Baroque exalted the monarchy and Catholic dogma while expressing the disillusionment, decadence, and pessimism of a crisis-stricken society. Unlike Europe, where rationalism and empiricism thrived, intellectual and scientific thought in Spain was limited by the Inquisition, conservative universities, the lack... Continue reading "Spanish Golden Age & War of Succession" »

The Forms of Territorial Occupation and Its Influence on the Structure of Property

Models of Repopulation and Social Organization

The monarchs favored the repopulation of reconquered Christian territory with different systems:

• Concejil Repopulation: Used between the Duero and Tagus rivers and the Ebro valley. The territory was divided into municipalities consisting of a walled town and a municipal land (administrative district). Settlers received a house and land. The council collected the forum, which outlined the duties and rights of villagers.
• Military Orders: In the lands between the Tagus and the Sierra Morena, which were dangerous and sparsely populated, recruitment was entrusted to military orders. They received extensive lordships, called