Class explanation - Spain in the 20th and 21st centuries CLIL RESOURCE on Contemporary History for Spanish students Bilingual Primary Education

1. Our Lady of the Loneliness School, Cantillana (Seville) Year 6

4. 1885
Constitutional
monarchy
Not much
support
abdicated 1st
Constitution
Charles IV
allowed
Napoleon
to go
across
Spain to go
to Portugal.
1807 1808 1812
abolished
the 1st
Constitution
1814
absolute
monarchy
1833
Exile
1871 1873
1st
republic
War of
Independence
19th CENTURY
1874
Not much
support
Most of the
American
colonies
became
independent
19th CENTURY
Restoration

5. Read these terms and try to find their definitions in pairs.
0
republic dictatorship
monarchy
civil
war

6. Spain experienced all of these things in the 1st half of the 20th
century. Think and put them in order in your notebook.
Read these terms and try to find their definitions in pairs.
0
republic dictatorship
monarchy
civil
war

7. Spain experienced all of these things in the 1st half of the 20th
century. Think and put them in order in your notebook.
Read these terms and try to find their definitions in pairs.
0
republic
dictatorship
monarchy
civil
war
dictatorship

8. Alfonso XIII was the last king of the Spanish Restoration. He
was the son of Alfonso XII and was proclaimed king in 1902.
During his reign, there were serious social and political conflicts
in Spain. For example:
- Strikes. Labour unions organized them to get
better job conditions for workers.
- Nationalism. Groups in Catalonia,
the Basque Country and Galicia
demanded autonomy.
- The war in Morocco. Many Spanish
soldiers died and Spain lost territories
in the north of Africa. That area was
controlled by the Spanish army.
Read and answer orally in pairs.
1
Alfonso XIII

9. - What groups organized strikes?
- Do these groups exist today?
- How were nationalisms similar
to nationalisms today?
- Look at the map and discuss.
How would have Spain be
different today if we had
had these African territories
at present?
Read and answer orally in pairs.
1

10. Taking advantage of the social and political conflict, General
Primo de Rivera led a coup in 1923. In a coup, a person or a group
takes control of a government by force.
Primo de Rivera established a military dictatorship. He assumed all
powers of state, abolished the Constitution, banned all political
parties and labour unions, and limited freedom for citizens. King
Alfonso XIII supported the dictatorship, but he was not part of the
government.
Primo de Rivera won the war with Morocco, and many roads,
railways and other public works were built under his rule. However,
the population opposed his dictatorship and wanted more
freedom. In 1930, Alfonso XIII stopped supporting Primo de Rivera
so the dictator had to resign.
General elections were held in 1931. The republican parties won,
and Alfonso XIII went into exile.
Read and understand. Later, you will become a mini-teacher.
2

11. 2
Draw a diagram about the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera
and use it to explain it to your partner.
Miguel Primo
de Rivera
Miguel
Primo de
Rivera

12. In 1931, after the general elections, the Second Spanish
Republic was proclaimed and Niceto Alcalá Zamora was
appointed president of the Republic.
A new Constitution was approved, which
included the right to vote for women and
the separation of church and state. The
Catholic religion was not the official
religion of Spain.
Also, the first Statutes of Autonomy for
Catalonia and the Basque Country were
approved.
Read; look at the picture and answer.
3
See picture

13. Look at this picture of the general elections of 1933.
Read, look at the picture and answer.
3

14. Look at this picture of the general elections of 1933.
- What can you see?
- Why can you see women in the picture?
- Do you think that the church and the government should go
together? Give your opinion.
Read, look at the picture and answer.
3

15. The government of the Republic implemented many reforms,
including _ _ _ _, _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and _ _ _ _ _ _.
Read and play hangman.
3

16. The government of the Republic implemented many reforms,
including land, education and labour.
- Land: Some lands were given to peasants. It was very
important in Andalusia.
- Education: A lot of schools were built.
- Labour: A minimum wage (salary) was established and the
workday was reduced.
However, these reforms were not accepted by
everyone, and violent conflicts escalated over time.
a. Who benefited from the changes brought about
by the Second Republic?
b. What do you think that happened after the violent conflicts?
Read and play hangman.
3
Think and answer.

17. In 1936, General Francisco Franco led a coup against the
government of the Republic. This event started the Spanish Civil
War, which finished in 1939. During the war, the Spanish
population was divided into two areas:
The Republican area: they supported the Republic.
The Nationalist area: they supported General Franco.
After 3 years of war, General Franco’s troops occupied all the
Spanish territory.
Read this information and discuss.
4
Francisco
Franco Cantillana (Seville)

18. Look at this map, listen and answer in groups.
4

19. - How long was the Spanish Civil War?
- Who controlled the Nationalist area?
- Why did the Spanish Civil War start?
Look at this map, listen and answer in groups.
4
The consequences of the war
were devastating.
Hundreds of thousands of
people died or went into exile,
there were huge economic
losses, and society was divided
into winners and losers.
In groups, write a list
of consequences of the war.

20. - How long was the Spanish Civil War?
- Who controlled the Nationalist area?
- Why did the Spanish Civil War start?
Look at this map, listen and answer in groups.
4
The consequences of the war
were devastating.
Hundreds of thousands of
people died or went into exile,
there were huge economic
losses, and society was divided
into winners and losers.
In groups, write a list
of consequences of the war.

21. Use your imagination and write a sonnet (poetry) about the Spanish
Civil War.
4

22. After the war, General Francisco Franco took power and
established a dictatorship that lasted from 1939 to 1975. This
dictatorship is known as Francoism.
- What do you think were some of the differences between the
Republic and the new dictatorship?
- What do you think happened to the Constitution?
- What do you think happened to labour unions?
Read and practise these questions in pairs.
5

23. As a result of establishing a dictatorship:
- The Constitution was abolished and new laws that restricted
individual liberties were created.
- All power was concentrated in one person. Franco was head of
state and government, and commander-in-chief of the military.
- Political parties and labour unions were banned. There was only
one political party and one labour union, both controlled by the
government.
- The Statutes of Autonomy were revoked (Catalonia and the
Basque Country). Spanish was imposed as the official language.
- Censorship was put into place. Books, films, plays (theatre) and
anything against the ideas of the dictatorship were banned.
Read and discuss.
5
Activities

24. a. Write three important changes that happened when Franco
took power.
b. Are these things different today? Explain
c. Answer in groups. What would you say to Franco if you
could travel in time?
Answer in your notebook.
5

25. The first years of the
dictatorship were difficult.
People who had supported
the Republic faced harsh
repression. Many were arrested
or killed, and others went into
exile.
During these years, Spain
became internationally isolated.
As a result of the Spanish
dictatorship, many countries
broke off diplomatic and
commercial relations with Spain.
Work in pairs. Use this text to answer this question: what
consequences do you think Spain could have because of this isolation?
5

26. This isolation and the destruction of infrastructures and
industries during the war led to an economic crisis.
As a result, the population became poor and often did not
have access to food and other basic products.
- Why are these people
standing in line?
- What social class do you
think they belong to?
- Why do they need
these services?
- Are these organizations
that provide this service
today? Explain.
Look, read, listen and answer.
5

27. Franco’s dictatorship started in 1939 and Spain was not
accepted by other countries at the beginning. However, from
the 1950’s, Spain started to become accepted internationally.
During this period, many agreements were signed with
different countries, including the United States of America. In
1955, Spain was accepted as a member of the United Nations
(UN).
From 1960, the economy started to improve: industrial
production increased, agriculture was modernized with new
machinery and new infrastructure was developed. Tourism
became one of the main economic activities. In Andalusia the
tourism in La Costa del Sol became very important.
As a result of these changes, life became better in our country.
Read, think and discuss.
5

28. Dictation.
5

29. - Marbella was one of the most important touristic places in
Spain and Andalusia during the 1960’s in the 20th century.
- However, there was no democracy and the dictator
controlled the population.
- People who opposed the dictatorship were arrested.
Dictation.
5
Nationalists vs.
Republicans.
Explain why your
political choice is
better than the
other.
Debate.

30. Between 1970 and 1975, opposition to the Franco regime
escalated.
Labour unions were still banned, but they started to organize
underground, which means they met in secret.
In addition, students participated in demonstrations that
demanded a democratic form of government.
On 20th November, 1975, General Franco died and the
dictatorship ended. It was the beginning of a new era in which
democracy was established.
- What event marked the end of the dictatorship?
- Imagine and write 3 changes in your life if there were a new
dictatorship in Spain:
- If there were a dictatorship in Spain, I would/wouldn’t…
Read and answer these questions.
5

31. Use 7 linkers and 150 words at least.
Write about the Franco Era. Use your own words, past simple,
past continuous and relative pronouns.
PARAGRAPH 1: INTRODUCTION
PARAGRAPH 2: 1st BODY
PARAGRAPH 3: 2nd BODY
PARAGRAPH 4: CONCLUSION
5

32. - What happened after
Franco’s death?
- What do you think the
transition was?
Watch this video, think and answer.
6

33. - What happened after
Franco’s death?
- What do you think the
transition was?
Watch this video, think and answer.
6
Dictation.

34. - What happened after
Franco’s death?
- What do you think the
transition was?
Watch this video, think and answer.
6
The transition was the period of
political changes created to go
from the dictatorship to
democracy.
Dictation.

35. After the death of General Franco in 1975, Juan Carlos I,
grandson of Alfonso XIII, was crowned King of Spain.
In 1976, the king appointed Adolfo Suárez as president. A
series of reforms were adopted and Spain could become a
democratic country again.
Read and discuss.
6
Juan Carlos I Adolfo Suárez

36. a) Political parties and labour unions were legalized. ____
b) Political prisoners were killed. ____
c) Some people went into exile. ____
d) After 41 years, the Spanish people were once again able to
vote in democratic elections. ____
Read and say if these reforms were true or false:
6

37. a) Political parties and labour unions were legalized. T
b) Political prisoners were killed RELEASED. F
c) Some people went into exile PEOPLE IN EXILE RETURNED TO
SPAIN. F
d) After 41 years, the Spanish people were once again able to
vote in democratic elections. T
Read and say if these reforms were true or false:
6

38. Elections took place in 1977 and the Central Democratic
Union (Unión de Centro Democrático, UCD) was elected, the
party led by Adolfo Suárez.
a. Who is the king now?
b. Who was the king before him?
Read and answer orally.
6

39. After the 1977 elections, representative of the major political
parties wrote a constitution which was approved by Parliament.
In 1978, Spaniards voted in favour of the Constitution in a
referendum.
The Constitution of 1978 established that Spain is a democratic
country, whose national sovereignty resides in the Spanish
people, with a parliamentary monarchy as a form of
government.
Read and understand.
6
Make up a YES/NO question to
approve the rules of the
classroom. This is our classroom
rules referendum.
Work in pairs.

40. Our Constitution also guarantees citizens’ rights such as
equality under the law, freedom of expression and the right to
vote for all citizens over 18 years of age.
The Constitution also recognizes the organization of the
Spanish territory in autonomous communities. Between 1979
and 1995, Spain was organized into 17 autonomous
communities and two autonomous cities.
Read and write the events below in chronological order.
6
Suárez appointed
president
Constitution
approved
Juan Carlos I
crowned
Franco died
UCD won
election

41. Our Constitution also guarantees citizens rights such as
equality under the law, freedom of expression and the right to
vote for all citizens over 18 years of age.
The Constitution also recognizes the organization of the
Spanish territory in autonomous communities. Between 1979
and 1995, Spain was organized into 17 autonomous
communities and two autonomous cities.
Read and write the events below in chronological order.
6
Suárez appointed
president
Constitution
approved
Juan Carlos I
crowned
Franco died
UCD won
election
Next to each
event, write the year it
occurred.

42. New elections were held in 1979 and the party of Adolfo
Suárez (UCD) won again. During this mandate, Spain suffered a
serious economic crisis, and terrorist attacks by ETA were
frequent.
- What do you think Adolfo Suárez did?
Read, listen and answer.
6
Dictation.

43. New elections were held in 1979 and the party of Adolfo
Suárez (UCD) won again. During this mandate, Spain suffered a
serious economic crisis, and terrorist attacks by ETA were
frequent.
- What do you think Adolfo Suárez did?
Read, listen and answer.
6
Adolfo Suárez resigned
because there was an
economic crisis and ETA
attacked very frequently.
Dictation.

44. In 1981, while Parliament
was voting to elect Leopoldo
Calvo Sotelo as the new
president, a small group of
military officers led by
Lieutenant-Colonel Antonio
Tejero attempted a coup.
However, Tejero did not
have support from political
parties, the people or the king,
and the coup failed.
Watch this video of Tejero’s coup attempt, read this
information and write a sentence in pairs with your opinion.
6

45. Since 1981, after Adolfo Suárez, some presidents headed the Spanish
government.
- 1981: Leopoldo Calvo Sotelo (UCD). Spain became a member
of NATO, a military alliance.
- 1982 to 1996: Felipe González (PSOE). He carried
out reforms to modernize Spain. In 1986,
Spain joined the European Community.
- 1996 to 2004: José María Aznar (PP). Economic stability was
achieved. In 2002, Spain adopted the euro (€) as it currency,
and said ‘good-bye’ to the peseta.
- 2004 to 2011: José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero (PSOE). Laws that
extended the rights of citizens were approved. In the last years
of his mandate, the economic crisis caused unemployment.
- 2011 to ?: Mariano Rajoy (PP). Very strict measures
were taken to stop the economic crisis. In 2014,
king Juan Carlos I abdicated in favour of his son,
Felipe VI.
Read and make a timeline of the presidents of Spain since
democracy was established.
6

46. Main Spanish artists during the 20th century:
 Pablo Ruiz Picasso. He was born in Málaga. He
invented cubism. In this innovative painting
style, three-dimensional human figures and
objects are represented on a flat canvas using
different geometrical shapes.
 Salvador Dalí. He was born in Figueras (Girona).
He used light, colour and drawings to express
the world of dreams.
 Joan Miró. He was born in Barcelona. He used
bright colours and geometrical shapes to create
a fantasy world similar to the world of a child.
Another well-known painters include Antoni
Tàpies, Antonio López and Miguel Barceló.
Read and, later, look at some paintings.
7

47. Look, listen and answer.
7
The Woman that Cries
(La mujer que llora)
Ladders Cross the Blue Sky in a
Wheel of Fire (Las escaleras cruzan
el cielo azul en una rueda de fuego)
The Persistence of
Memory (La
persistencia de la
memoria)

48. - Which painting would you associate with children? Why?
- Which painting reminds you of the world of dreams? Why?
- Who painted ‘The Women that Cries’? How can you tell it is a
cubist painting?
- Who painted each picture?
7
Look, listen and answer.
Picasso MiróDalí

49. During the 20th century and in the present day, sculptors have
worked with materials such as iron, steel, plastic or even recycled
materials to create distorted human sculptures.
The main Spanish sculptors include Pablo Gargallo,
Eduardo Chillida and Juan Muñoz.
7
Read and answer in pairs: Why do you think that painters
and sculptors from the 20th century were not interested in copying reality?
The Prophet (El
profeta). Pablo Gargallo
Comb of the Wind (Peine del
viento). Eduardo Chillida

50. From the 20th century, architects have created multi-shaped
buildings using a variety of materials, such as reinforced
concrete, steel, glass, aluminium and titanium.
7
Read about architecture in the 20th century, look at these
pictures and answer.
Torre Sevilla. César Pelli
Setas de la Encarnación.
Jürgen Mayer

51. - Have you ever been here?
- What are these buildings used for?
- Do you like their design? Why?
7
Read about architecture in the 20th century, look at these
pictures and answer.
Torre Sevilla. César Pelli
Setas de la Encarnación.
Jürgen Mayer

52. Since the 20th century, Spain has produced great writers:
- Narrative: Miguel Delibes, Camilo José Cela (Nobel Prize for
Literature), Javier Marías and Arturo Pérez-Reverte.
- Poem: Federico García Lorca and Rafael Alberti, who were
part of the group of poets known as the Generation of ’27.
- Drama: Jacinto Benavente (Nobel Prize for Literature) and
Fernando Fernán Gómez.
7
Read and discuss about the importance of literature during the
20th century.

53. Copy this table in your notebook and complete it in groups.
FROM 1902 TO 1931 2ND REPUBLIC & CIVIL WAR THE FRANCO ERA
FROM TRANSITION TO DEMOCRACY ART AND CULTURE