Franco dictatorship and democratic transition (1939–present)
What the exam tests
Francoism as a dictatorship with changing international alignments and economic phases, and the negotiated transition from that regime to a parliamentary monarchy consolidated in the 1978 Constitution.
The dictatorship (1939–75)
- Repression and institutions: Law of Political Responsibilities (1939), trade-union and party persecution; Cortes created 1942; Fuero de los Españoles 1945; Law of Succession 1947 (Spain declared a kingdom, Franco as regent); Organic Law of the State 1966; Juan Carlos designated successor in 1969.
- Foreign policy: Axis sympathy in 1939–43, then isolation; Pact of Madrid 1953 (US bases) and Concordat 1953; UN admission 1955; EEC association talks in the 1960s.
- Economy: autarky and rationing until 1952, INI 1941; Stabilization Plan 1959, Development Plans from 1964, mass tourism, emigration, urban growth.
- Opposition and end: student and labour movements, ETA, Carrero Blanco's assassination (20 December 1973), Green March on Western Sahara (November 1975), Franco's death 20 November 1975.
The transition (1975–82)
- Juan Carlos I keeps Arias Navarro, then appoints Adolfo Suárez (July 1976); Law for Political Reform approved in the Cortes and by referendum (December 1976); PCE legalised April 1977; elections 15 June 1977; Moncloa Pacts (October 1977).
- Constitution 1978: approved in Cortes on 31 October, in referendum on 6 December, in force 29 December; parliamentary monarchy, territorial state of autonomies. Statutes of Autonomy for Catalonia and the Basque Country in 1979; Statute of Castilla y León in 1983, first regional elections the same year.
- 23 February 1981 attempted coup; PSOE victory 1982; NATO membership 1982, confirmed by referendum 1986, EEC accession 1986; 1992 (Olympics, Expo, Quincentenary); euro in circulation 2002.
Worked example
With an extract of the 1959 Stabilization Plan, identify it as a government economic memorandum, extract its measures (liberalisation of prices and trade, fiscal discipline, foreign investment), explain why autarky had failed, and nuance the conclusion: growth came with emigration, wage restraint and a trade deficit, while the regime converted economic success into political legitimacy.
Mark-losing traps
- 1947 Law of Succession (kingdom restored in principle) versus 1969 designation of Juan Carlos as successor.
- 1953 Pact of Madrid (US bases) versus 1959 Stabilization Plan (economy).
- 1976 Law for Political Reform versus the June 1977 elections - two different steps.
- Constitution: 31 October (approval by Cortes), 6 December (referendum), 29 December (entry into force).
- 23-F was 1981, not part of the 1978 constitutional process.