After the death of King Alfonso XII, Spain experienced political instability and conflict in the early 20th century. This led to a military dictatorship under Primo de Rivera from 1923-1930. The Second Republic then began in 1931, establishing democracy, secularism, and autonomy. However, these reforms divided Spain and led to civil war from 1936-1939, resulting in a nationalist victory under Francisco Franco, who ruled as a dictator until his death in 1975.

1. CONTEMPORARY SPAIN:
THE 20th CENTURY
UNIT 4

3. 1. SPAIN IN THE EARLY
20TH CENTURY
After Alfonso XII died, Spain was ruled by his wife, Mª Cristina until 1902
when Alfonso XIII was 16.
During Alfonso XIII`s reign experienced social and political conflict:
- The Liberals and Conservatives continued to take turns in
government.
- Workers demanded better working conditions. There were many
strikes.
- Spain was involved in military conflict in its colonies in Morocco.

4. Because of these problems, there was a military coup in 1923. With
Alfonso XIII`s support, General Miguel Primo de Rivera established a
dictatorship:
- The constitution was suspended and the king lost his power.
- Political parties were illegal.
- Freedom of press was limited by censorship.
At first, many people supported Primo de Rivera’s dictatorship. Later on
there was opposition from the army and from Alfonso XIII. Primo de Rivera
resigned in 1930.

5. THE SECOND REPUBLIC
The Second Republic began in 1931 when the Republicans and Socialists won the
municipal elections. The monarchy was abolished and Manuel Azaña became
president. There was a new constitution and Spain became a democracy: all men
and women could vote.
- The Church lost control of education. Public schools were established.
- There was more regional autonomy. (Statute of autonomy for Cataluña).
- The government took land from big landowners. They planned to give it to poor
farmers.
These reforms divided Spanish society and caused political conflict. Left-wing people
supported the changes and right-wing people opposed these changes.

6. 2. THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR
In July 1936 a military rebellion against the Second Republic began in Spanish
Morocco, led by General Francisco Franco. The rebels took control of parts of Spain.
The country became divided into two areas: The Nationalist area controlled by the
rebels and the Republican areas controlled by the Second Republic.
The Nationalists
Were supported
by Germany and
Italy.
The Republicans
were supported by the
Soviet Union (Russia)

7. The war ended in April 1939. As a result of the Nationalist victory, the
Second Republic ended. Franco established a right-wing dictatorship.
Some of the consequences were:
- Around 365 000 people died.
- People were imprisoned or killed because of their opinions.
- Roads, bridges, railways and buildings were destroyed.
- People became ill because there wasn’t enough food.
- Many children were sent to other countries and they never saw their
families again.

8. 3. SPAIN DURING
FRANCO´S DICTATORSHIP
After the Nationalists won the Spanish Civil War, Franco established a
dictatorship. He made himself the head of state and of the government,
and Caudillo (leader) of Spain. He took complete control of the country’s
politics, economy, religion and laws. The dictatorship was based on three
pillars:
The military The Church The Falange

9. The constitution was abolished and there were no more democratic
elections.
- Political parties were illegal
- Trade unions were illegal. Workers lost their rights.
- Censorship. No freedom of press.
- No regional autonomy. Power was concentrated in central government.
Many people went to live in the United Kimgdom, France and other
countries. Republicans who stayed in Spain were imprisoned or killed.

10. 1940s and 1950s
- Living conditions were very
hard.
- There wasn`t much food.
- Most people were poor.
- Spain didn`t participate in the
Second World War but Franco
supported Hitler.
- Spain wasn´t allowed to be a
member of the United Nations
(created after the Second World
War) because it was a
dictatorship.
1960s
- There were economic reforms.
- Economy started to improve.
- Living conditions improved.
- Tourism became important.
- Franco named Juan Carlos de
Borbón his successor.
1970s
- Franco was old and ill.
- Carrero Blanco was prime
minister. He wanted to
continue the dictatorship.
- Carrero Blanco was killed by
ETA in 1973.
- Franco died in 1975,
- Juan Carlos became king of
Spain.

11. 4. SPAIN SINCE 1975
After Juan Carlos became king in 1975, the transition to democracy began. The
transition was completed in 1978 with a new constitution. During the transition,
important reforms were introduced by the prime minister, Adolfo Suárez:
-Political parties were legal.
-There was a democratic election in 1977.
-A new constitution was written.
In 1978 people voted in favour of the constitution in a referendum.

13. Since the transition to democracy, two parties have governed
Spain: PSOE and PP. In recent years new parties have been
formed. (Podemos, Ciudadanos, VOX)
Today, Spain is a democracy and every four years there are
elections to choose the government. People over 18 years old
can vote. Spanish citizen´s rights are guaranteed by the
constitution.

14. IMPORTANT EVENTS
1981
There was a military
coup led by Antonio
Tejero. It failed. Spain
continued to be a
democracy.
1986
Spain became a
member of the
European Economic
Community. (European
Union)
2002
Spain adopted the
euro. The peseta was
replaced by the euro.

15. 5. ART AND CULTURE IN 20TH
CENTURY SPAIN
Cubism and Surrealism were artistic movements in the 20th
century. Abstrac art developed in the second half of the 20th
century.Cubism used geometric
shapes to represent
people and things.
Pablo Picasso was one
of the inventors of
Cubism.
Surrealism represented
imaginary scenes and
fantasies.
Salvador Dalí and Joan
Miró were important
surrealist artists.
Abstract art representded
ideas rather than reality.
Eduardo Chillida was an
important abstract sculptor.

16. The Generation of ´27 was a group of poets that formed in the
1920s to experiment with new styles of poetry. (Miguel
Hernández, Federico García Lorca) During the Civil War
García Lorca was killed by the Nationalists and Miguel
Hernández died in prison.