The sixth fundamental law, the Law on the Principles of the National Movement--which Franco decreed unilaterally in further defined the institutions of Franco's government. The National Movement--a coalition of right-wing groups referred to as political "families"--termed a "communion" rather than a party, was designated as the sole forum for political participation. The law reaffirmed the nature of Spain as a traditional, Catholic monarchy. All top government officials, as well as all possible future successors to Franco, were required to pledge their loyalty to the principles embodied in this law which was presented as a synthesis of all previous fundamental laws.
The final fundamental law, the Organic Law of the State, was presented in It incorporated no major changes, but was designed to codify and to clarify existing practices, while allowing for some degree of reform. It established a separation between the functions of the president of government prime minister and the head of state, and it outlined the procedures for the selection of top government officials. It included other measures designed to modernize the Spanish system and to eliminate vestiges of fascist terminology.
Although presented as a move toward democratization, it nevertheless retained the basic structure of an authoritarian system. Franco initially derived his authority from his victory in the Civil War. The armed forces gave his regime security; the Roman Catholic Church and the National Movement gave it legitimacy. The National Movement was the only recognized political organization in Franco's Spain.
It was not a political party, and it did not have an overt ideological basis. Its membership included monarchists, Falangists, conservative Catholics, members of the armed forces, as well as business groups with vested interests in continuity , technocrats, and civil servants.
Although there was some overlap among these groups, they had distinct, and often contradictory, interests. The force that fused them together was their common loyalty to Franco. Franco was particularly skillful in manipulating each of these "families," giving each a taste of power, but not allowing any group or individual to create an independent base from which to challenge his authority.
Franco's political system was virtually the antithesis of the final government of the republican era--the Popular Front government. In contrast to the anticlericalism of the Popular Front, the Francoist regime established policies that were highly favorable to the Catholic Church, which was restored to its previous status as the official religion of Spain.
Franco also opened his ports to German submarines and invaded the internationally administered city of Tangier in Morocco. Following the war, Spain faced diplomatic and economic isolation, but that began to thaw as the Cold War heated up. In Spain allowed the United States to construct three air bases and a naval base on its soil in return for military and economic aid.
As Franco aged, he increasingly avoided daily political affairs, preferring instead to hunt and fish. At the same time, police controls and press censorship began to relax, strikes and protests became more commonplace, some free-market reforms were introduced, tourism increased and Morocco gained its independence.
Franco died on November 20, , after suffering a series of heart attacks. At his funeral, many mourners raised their arm in a fascist salute. Though Juan Carlos had spent a good deal of time alongside Franco and publicly supported the regime, he pressed for change immediately upon taking the throne, including the legalization of political parties.
The first post-Franco elections were held in June , and, except for an hour-long coup attempt in , Spain has remained democratic ever since. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us!
Subscribe for fascinating stories connecting the past to the present. Francisco Pizarro was an explorer, soldier and conquistador best known for conquering the Incas and executing their leader, Atahuapla. He was born around in Trujillo, Spain. In , Coronado led a major Spanish expedition Originally a Spanish later Mexican mission and pueblo, it was conquered On April 18, , an earthquake and subsequent fires devastated San Francisco, California, leaving more than 3, people dead and destroying more than 28, buildings.
The quake ruptured the San Andreas fault to the north and south of the city, for a total of miles, and Skip to main content. Search for:. Learning Objective Summarize the rise of the Franco regime in Spain. Francisco Franco, a Spanish general, rose to prominence in the mids, but his right-wing party failed to gained power in the elections.
Franco and other military leaders staged a failed coup that led to the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, which lasted from Key Terms Francisco Franco A Spanish general who ruled over Spain as a dictator for 36 years from until his death.
He took control of Spain from the government of the Second Spanish Republic after winning the Civil War, and was in power , when the Spanish Constitution of went into effect. Spanish Civil War A war from to between the Republicans, who were loyal to the democratic, left-leaning and relatively urban Second Spanish Republic in an alliance of convenience with the Anarchists, and the Nationalists, a falangist, Carlist, and a largely aristocratic conservative group led by General Francisco Franco.
Falangism A Fascist movement founded in Spain in and the one legal party in Spain under the regime of Franco. Licenses and Attributions. CC licensed content, Shared previously. In , he named Juan Carlos as his successor, certain that the future king would keep Spain on its authoritarian path. But Franco badly misjudged his chosen successor.
The constitution was rewritten, Spain transitioned to a democratic system, and elections were held soon after. In , the Law of Historical Memory was passed to bring justice to the families of those killed under Franco. And today, at sites across the country, the bodies of his victims are still being exhumed.
Preston, Paul.
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