Spanish and World History: 19th and 20th Centuries

Imperialism

Imperialism was the first consequence of the Industrial Revolution. Industrialized countries imposed their dominance on new territories to expand their production and obtain raw materials.

Underlying Economic, Ideological, and Cultural Causes of Imperialism

Queen Elizabeth II

Ferdinand VII died in 1833, leaving his daughter, Elizabeth II, who was only 3 years old, as his successor. Absolutist parties supported Don Carlos, brother of the late king, leading to a civil war that would be recognized as the First Carlist War (1834-1839).

The Revolutionary Six Years (Sexenio Revolucionario)

Once Isabel II was dethroned, a provisional government and a constituent assembly were formed in 1869. This assembly widely recognized freedoms, including religious freedom, and established universal male suffrage. During this period, new parties emerged, including those advocating for the rights of illegal immigrants.

The Return of Alfonso XII

Alfonso XII returned to Spain after the pronouncement of General Martinez Campos at the end of 1874. His reign marked the beginning of the Restoration period, so named because the Bourbon monarchy was restored after a brief revolutionary parenthesis.

The Spanish-American War (Guerra de Cuba)

In 1898, Spain lost Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines, which remained in U.S. hands. This disaster highlighted the decline of Spain. Since 1898, the Restoration regime attempted to implement reforms to address Spain's backwardness.

Major Novels of the Generation of '98

• Antonio Machado - Campos de Castilla (poetry)
• Federico Garcia Lorca - Poet in New York, The House of Bernarda Alba

First World War

World War I resulted from the German attempt to alter the European balance maintained in the last third of the 19th century. The Peace of Versailles (1919), after four years of war that mobilized 70 million soldiers and killed millions (including 62,000 Americans), left the foremost powers of Europe ruined and indebted. The United States became the leading world power.

The Russian Revolution

At the beginning of the 20th century, Russia was an empire with a vast territory but a social and political structure far behind that of other European powers. Tsar Nicholas II was the emperor of 125 million people who lived in a territory with an almost exclusively agricultural economy.

Main Problems of the Reign of Alfonso XIII

Alfonso XIII's reign, starting with his coming of age in 1902, coincided with the Restoration. However, after the debacle of 1898 and the disappearance of the two great leaders, Cánovas and Sagasta, it became necessary to reform the political system to avoid electoral distortions.

European Avant-Garde

Cubism, Expressionism, Futurism, Dadaism, Surrealism.

Three Major Poets

• Ruben Dario
• Antonio Machado
• Federico Garcia Lorca

The Roaring Twenties

The Roaring Twenties, or the Crazy Years, is the denomination for the period of economic prosperity that the U.S. experienced from 1922 to 1929, as part of the expansive period of an economic cycle. However, this period of prosperity was short-lived, ending on October 24, 1929, known as Black Thursday.

The 1929 Stock Market Crash (Crack of New York)

In the summer of 1929, large publicly traded companies showed signs of weakness, and the bullish stock market began to change. Fear turned to panic when, in late October 1929, stock market declines accelerated.

Fascism

Fascism was organized in an ultranationalist, military style: strong discipline, a leader with absolute power, and black-shirt uniforms. Fascists considered socialists and labor unions, with their strikes and demonstrations, to be detrimental to the strength of the nation.

Nazism

German Nazism is an ideology concocted in the 1920s but did not reach significance until the 1930s. The harsh conditions of peace imposed by the Treaty of Versailles (1919) combined with the global crisis of 1929 (Black Thursday) fueled its rise.

Stalin's Russia

Under Stalin, the USSR transformed from an underdeveloped, third-world country into an industrial power in just ten years (1928-1938). Private property was abolished, and the construction of infrastructure was accelerated.

The Second Spanish Republic

After the collapse of the Primo de Rivera dictatorship, King Alfonso XIII had no choice but to call for municipal elections on April 14, 1931. During these years, Spain was divided into two camps that ultimately fought a bloody civil war.

The Spanish Civil War

The Spanish Civil War is the name given to the civil war that took place in Spain between the pronouncement of July 17 and 18, 1936, and the last part of the war signed by Francisco Franco on April 1, 1939. The Civil War had a significant impact on literary production and generated the most controversial social and political debate.