Spanish Society Under Franco: Post-War to 1960s Transformation

Evolution of Spanish Society During the Francoist Era

The Post-War Society (1939-1959)

These were difficult years, marked by hunger, disease, exile, and persecution. Only limited aid arrived from Argentina until 1953 due to Spain's international isolation. Given these difficulties, the regime encouraged a return to rural villages, promoting them as safer and healthier environments, thereby aiming to avoid potential social conflicts. The regime exercised rigid control through the Board of Censorship over all publications—written, oral, or graphical (magazines, radio, posters)—to suppress any anti-Francoist ideology.

Spanish Society in the 1960s: A Period of Transformation

This period experienced major changes:

• Population growth due to economic and health improvements.
• Significant increase in urban population (over 5 million people) due to rural exodus, driven by agricultural mechanization and new job opportunities in services and industry.
• Transformation of the social and occupational structure, with a rise in the number of workers, professionals (e.g., judges, lawyers, officials), and self-employed entrepreneurs to meet the demands of new services.

Changing Mentality and Lifestyles

• A new educational system (1970) aimed to eradicate illiteracy, making education mandatory until age 14.
• Increased university enrollment, particularly among women.
• Greater emphasis on learning foreign languages, increased reading of foreign books, organization of cultural tours, and even studies at foreign universities.
• In family life, young people sought greater independence and aimed to leave home earlier.
• Radical domestic changes with the arrival of the first household appliances.
• First widespread car purchases (e.g., the SEAT 600).
• Changes in youth culture, including thinking, dress, and entertainment, influenced by foreign bands, hippie movements, and other trends.
• Impact on religious attitudes, with groups of young people moving away from traditional religious practice and advocating for a church more committed to social issues.

All these factors contributed to increased political opposition against a regime that failed to address the growing demands for freedom from future generations.