Modern Age (19th and 20th centuries) CEIP Almirante Laulhé Curso 2015-16

The 19th Century

The Spanish War of Independence In 1808, Napoleon Bonaparte, the Emperor of France, invaded Spain. Charles IV was deposed, and his son, King Ferdinand VII was forced to abdicate the throne. Napoleon’s brother, Joseph Bonaparte, became king. Oppositions to his reign led to the Spanish War of Independence. During this war, the Spanish parliament, or Cortes, took refuge in Cadiz. In 1812, its members wrote Spain’s first modern constitution, the Constitution of Cadiz. This limited the king’s power, and established the rights of citizens, including the right to vote for men aged twenty-five or older.

The 19th Century

The restoration of Ferdinand VII After the French were defeated, Ferdinand VII was restored as king of Spain in 1814. Initially, Ferdinand did not accept the 1812 Constitution, and he ruled in an authoritarian manner. After a liberal revolt in 1820, Ferdinand was forced to accept the Constitution. However, three years later, Ferdinand was restored as absolute monarch with the help of the French. The political chaos in Spain caused an independence movement in the Spanish colonies in America. By 1824, all the American colonies except Cuba and Puerto Rico were independent.

Proclamation of The Constitution of Cadiz.

The 19th Century

Conservatism and liberation In 1833, Ferdinand’s daughter, Isabella II, came to the throne. During her reign there were conflicts between conservatives and liberals.

The 19th Century There were many coups d’etat (golpes de estado) by army officers and in 1868 Isabella was exiled. Between 1868 and 1874, there was a period of great political instability. Isabella II

In 1873, the First Spanish Republic was proclaimed, but it lasted less than a year. In 1874, the monarchy was restored under Isabella’s son, Alfonso XII.

The 20th Century

Spain, 1898-1931 At the end of the 19th century, Spain lost its last colonies in Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines. After these losses, the intellectuals of the “Generation of 1898” called for changes in Spanish society. In the early 20th century, some parts of Spain experienced industrial growth.

The 20th Century

There were many social uprisings, such as the revolt in Barcelona in 1909. In 1923, during the reign of Alfonso XIII, General Primo de Rivera established a dictatorship, but maintained the monarchy.

Rural areas

peasants worked on land owned

by landowners

Big cities

there was a new middle class and a

new working class, the industrial workers

Generación Del 98 Una generación literaria es un grupo de escritores que, nacidos en fechas cercanas y movidos por un acontecimiento de su época, se enfrentan a los mismos problemas y

reaccionan de modo semejante ante ellos.

✖ Sus principales componentes son: Miguel de Unamuno, Valle- Inclán, Pío Baroja, Azorín y Antonio Machado. ✖ Todos nacen entre 1864 y 1875. ✖ El acontecimiento histórico que los mueve es la decadencia española y el desastre de 1898. ✖ La imagen lamentable que presenta España, que ha caído en la apatía y el desinterés. ✖ Analizan los males de España e intentan proponer soluciones.

The Second Republic

In 1930, Primo de Rivera’s dictatorship came to an end, and elections were organised. In 1931, Republican candidates won local elections, and Alfonso XIII left the country. The Second Republic was established, and a Constitution was approved.

Some groups were in favour of: -land reform -regional autonomy -reduction in the power of the church. Other groups were opposed to these policies. Conflicts became violent, and some people, including politicians, were assassinated.

Many reforms were

introduced:

Land was distributed

among the peasants

First Statutes of

Autonomy

were declared

New state schools were

built

Women were given the

right to vote

The Civil War and the dictatorship

On 18 July 1936, General Franco led a military coup d’etat against the Republic, which turned into a violent Civil War. The Republicans, who supported the Republic, controlled much of the north, center and east of Spain. They also held most of the big cities. The Nacionalists, who supported General Franco, initially controlled many rural areas in the south and north-west of Spain. However, the Nationalist army won a series of victories, and gradually occupied most of Spain. Barcelona fell in January 1939, and Madrid in March 1939. The war ended on 1 April 1939.

The Civil War (1936-1939)

The Dictatorship Of Francisco Franco (1939-1975) After the war, many thousands of Franco’s opponents were imprisoned or executed, and many others went into exile. General Franco now controlled all the powers of the State (he was head of state, head of the government and commander-in-chief of the armed forces). During his dictatorship:

Political parties and trade unions

were illegal. There was only one

political party and one trade union.

Both were controlled by the

government.

Many individual liberties, such as

freedom of expression, were

restricted.

The Dictatorship Of Francisco Franco (1939-1975)

Initially, Spain was isolated politically, economically and culturally. Many Spanish workers migrated to other countries. Beginning in the 1960s, there was economic growth, including the development of the tourist industry. General Franco died in 1975, and the transition to democracy began.

The transition to democracy In 1975, Juan Carlos I, Alfonso XIII’s grandson, was designated king of Spain. Spain became a constitutional monarchy once again. Two years later, King Juan Carlos I appointed Adolfo Suárez President of the Government. During the transition period: Political parties and trade unions were legalized. The first democratic elections since 1936 were held. Parliament and the majority of the Spanish population approved a new Constitution. Terrorist attacks and serious economic and political problems continued.

Spain Since 1975 Spain’s modern democracy Since 1982, both the Spanish Socialist Party and the Popular Party have governed Spain. There have been many political, social, economic and cultural changes. Two changes are specially important: ● Spain became a member of the European Union. ● The Spanish State was organized into 17 Autonomous Communities and 2 Autonomous Cities. Spain has become a modern, prosperous country.

20th Century Culture And Society

Culture

Literature Poets such as Federico García Lorca, Rafael alberti and Jorge Guillen formed part of the “Generation of 27”. This was a group of poets who experimented with new forms of art and poetry. Later, the writers Vicente Aleixandre and Camilo Jose Cela both won the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Cinema The film director Luis Buñuel became famous worldwide. The directors Jose Luis Garci, Fernando Trueba and Pedro Almodovar have won Oscars.

Architecture The architect Antoni Gaudi designed many outstanding and original buildings, such as the cathedral of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

Painting and sculpture Pablo Picasso was one of the most influential artists in the world. Together with Juan Gris, he was one of the founders of the artistic style Cubism. Joan Miro and Salvador Dali were also great painters and sculptors, who were best known for their surrealist works.

Spaniards produced many great works in every field of culture in the 20th century.

Antonio Gaudí

Obras

Basílica Expiatoria Sagrada Familia

Salvador Dalí Pablo Picasso

Society

Under the dictatorship

Divorce was not permitted

Most women did not study or work.

Married women could not

work,own propery or even travel without their

husband’s permission

For many years, Spain has little

contact with other countries.

However, in the 1960s many

tourists started to come to Spain

Since the dictatorship

Divorce is legal

Many women study at university

and work. They can own property, and can be totally

independent

Spain is open to the world. Many

emigrants returned to Spain

after the dictatorship, and today there are

inmigrants from many parts of the

world

There have been many profound changes in Spanish society since the end of the dictatorship.