Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Social sciences

The New Order and Bourbon Reforms

Philip V undertook important reforms in the administration, inspired by the French model. The Nueva Planta decrees were applied to the former Crown of Aragon:

• Aragon and Valencia (1707)
• Mallorca (1715)
• Catalonia (1716)

These decrees suppressed local charters and institutions. Each region established a Captain General (formerly Viceroy) and an Audiencia, establishing a new taxation system. This set up a centralized state, only respecting the privileges of Navarra and the Basque Country.

Foreign Policy and Military Recovery

The foreign policy of Philip V was aimed at the recovery of the Peace of Utrecht. Alberoni boosted the reappearance of the Spanish military force in Italy. Philip V signed two of the three Family

The Restoration of the Constitutional Monarchy

General Martínez Campos proclaimed Alfonso XII, son of Isabel II, as king in 1874, which began the Restoration. The regime of the new king, a supporter of constitutional monarchy, named Cánovas del Castillo as the President of the Government. Cánovas was the real architect behind the return of the Bourbons to the throne. He worked to organize and stabilize the political situation. On one hand, he ended the war in Cuba and the Carlist War; on the other, he created a new political system in which all parties had room to accept the monarchy within a constitutional framework. This political system was based essentially on two pillars: a new constitution and the alternation of parties in power.

The

Constituent Factor

Constituent Factor: Attached to the individualistic model, particularly with regard to the social contract. The nation exercises the constitutional (constituent) power especially when it decides (vuole) a new social and political order that replaces the old. It is not limited to creating greater certainty and safety for the exercise of individual, natural rights and liberties; it is also configured as an accomplished political fact that states the goals to reach, linking citizens and identifying individual enemies to combat and isolate.

The nation or people of the French Revolution is a clear political concept of a combative nature. When the revolution began, the first problem was to defend it from its enemies: conspiracies... Continue reading "Constituent Power and Revolutionary Legitimacy" »

Liberalism: Foundations of Freedom

Liberalism is a philosophical system, economic, and political approach that promotes civil liberties and seeks to limit the coercive power of governments over individuals. It opposes any form of despotism and is based on the doctrine of representative government and parliamentary democracy.

Absolutism: Centralized Power

Absolutism is a form of government in which power is vested in a single person, who must be obeyed by all others, without accountability to Parliament or the people.

Democracy: Rule by the People

Democracy is a form of government and state organization in which collective decisions are made by the people through direct or indirect participation mechanisms that confer legitimacy upon their representatives.... Continue reading "Understanding Core Political Systems and Ideologies" »

The Philosophy of José Ortega y Gasset

José Ortega y Gasset (1883-1955), a prominent Spanish writer, essayist, and thinker, was born in Madrid. He held a doctorate in philosophy and served as a lecturer in metaphysics. His understanding of the history of philosophy emphasized a profound dialogue with classical Greek thought, alongside a critical engagement with contemporary German philosophy.

His extensive work is typically divided into three distinct periods:

• The Objectivist Period: Characterized by his time in Germany, focusing on objective reality.
• The Perspectivist Period: Where he posited that human beings apprehend the world from a specific, unique perspective, revealing a variety of facets.
• The Ratio-Vitalist Period: His most mature phase,

Principles of Democracy: Sovereignty, Rights & Powers

1. Sovereignty: The supreme political power in the state.
2. Government: The governing body that exercises political power; in democracies the government assumes executive power according to the division of powers.
3. Popular will: The political will of citizens expressed collectively.
4. Democratic attitude: The disposition to live together and reach agreements with those who have different opinions and interests.
5. Tolerance: An attitude of acceptance toward people with different beliefs, attitudes, behaviors, and interests.
6. Minority rights: Rights recognized in democracies for groups that hold minority opinions or behaviors.
7. Human rights: The basic rights that all human beings possess by virtue of being

Agrarian Conditions and Social Tensions

Agricultural laborers often lived in squalid conditions, only able to rent land temporarily for seasonal jobs. They became the main focus of rebellion against landowners.

The Rabassaire Conflict in Catalonia

In Catalonia, specific issues arose concerning properties like Mirjana, the Module system, and leases. A key element was the Contracte de Rabassa Morta (Rabassa Dead Contract), which lasted until two-thirds of the vines (rabassa) had died, typically after about 40 years. This system fueled significant social tensions in the countryside.

Unhappy and without possibilities for change, laborers organized strikes and riots, particularly between 1917 and 1920, encouraged by the Soviet Revolution. However, these... Continue reading "Spain's Second Industrialization and Social Conflict (1900-1929)" »

State Investment in Educational Systems

State intervention in the regular educational environment occurs through various educational levels, subjects, courses, and steps. It also improves training and university education while promoting support programs and scholarships; for this, it must invest a significant amount of money. To evaluate an educational system, we can look at several quality indicators, such as the school enrollment rate of university students, school facilities, and public spending.

Healthcare Systems and Public Well-being

Health is a basic need of all people that must be met as a priority because it involves ensuring the right to life of the population under dignified conditions. Many countries establish a health system as a... Continue reading "Modern Systems for Education Health and Business Management" »

The Liberal Revolution and the Cortes of Cádiz

The political developments in occupied Spain created a revolutionary process and a confrontation between the pro-French and the patriots. Within the patriot camp, a division emerged between liberals and absolutists. This revolutionary process had three centers of action:

• The Boards (Juntas): These were formed to address the power vacuum caused by the French invasion. These local boards were organized at the provincial level, which then reported to the Central Board. The boards were composed of bishops, military commanders, writers, lawyers, and other prominent figures.
• The Guerrilla Movement: The failures of the regular Spanish army led to another kind of resistance. The guerrilla movement arose

The English Model of Industrial Development

The English Model: Britain's pioneering status established it as a world power until 1914. The English model can be summarized under three main headings:

• Resources: Human resources and an increased population drove demand and provided manpower for the industry.
• Energy and Raw Materials: Abundant wool, iron ore, and coal provided a significant advantage over poorly endowed countries.
• Food: Bumper harvests and surplus produce occurred between 1740 and 1780.

Key Industrial Sectors

• Textiles and Steel: These became the classical sectors of national development.
• Thermal Innovations: Innovations were constant; the Watt steam engine became one of the most important inventions in history.

The Spread of the Industrial