Review Unit 3: Modern Spain

On 11 February 1873, Spain became a [blank_start]republic[blank_end], but the period of political and social [blank_start]instability[blank_end] continued. The republic lasted only [blank_start]eleven[blank_end] months with [blank_start]four[blank_end] presidents during this period. Three simultaneous [blank_start]civil[blank_end] wars also broke out in Spain that year.

During the [blank_start]regency[blank_end] period, Spain lost its remaining colonies, [blank_start]Cuba[blank_end], Puerto Rico and the [blank_start]Philippines[blank_end]. Primo de Rivera organised a [blank_start]coup[blank_end]. Alfonso XIII supported him and Rivera suspended the [blank_start]Constitution[blank_end] and became a dictator from 1923-1930. In [blank_start]1931[blank_end], the [blank_start]Republicans[blank_end] won the elections, the monarchy was abolished and the [blank_start]Second[blank_end] Republic was declared. It lasted until the end of the Civil War in [blank_start]1939[blank_end].

When the [blank_start]Civil[blank_end] War ended in [blank_start]1939[blank_end], General [blank_start]Franco[blank_end] established a dictatorship which lasted until his death in [blank_start]1975[blank_end]. In the years following the war, Franco embarked on a policy based on [blank_start]Autarchy[blank_end] (economic self-sufficiency). As Franco had declared Spain a [blank_start]monarchy[blank_end], he needed a successor. In [blank_start]1969[blank_end], he chose Prince Juan Carlos - Alfonso XIII’s grandson. Franco thought that the regime would continue under Juan Carlos. In 1975, General Franco died and the [blank_start]transition[blank_end] from a dictatorship to democracy began.