Contemporary Spain: Restoration System, Primo de Rivera, Second Republic, Civil War, Francoism and the Transition
What this domain tests
Spanish history from the Restoration of 1874 to the socialist victory of 1982 - the longest block and the one where Catalonia and Spain overlap most. Sources are usually constitutional articles, party manifestos, decrees or speeches.
Core content
- Restoration (1874–1931): Cánovas's system, the 1876 Constitution, turnismo and caciquismo, the Pact of Pardo 1885; regenerationism after 1898; Tragic Week 1909; the 1917 crisis (military juntas, Assembly of Parliamentarians, general strike); the Moroccan war and Annual 1921.
- Primo de Rivera (1923–1930): coup, Military Directory, Civil Directory, Unión Patriótica, the 1929 crash and loss of support, the municipal elections of April 1931.
- Second Republic: 14 April 1931, the 1931 Constitution, the reformist biennium (agrarian reform, Catalan Statute 1932, army and education), the turn of 1933, October 1934, the Popular Front of February 1936.
- Civil War (1936–1939): the July coup, non-intervention, Soviet aid and the International Brigades against German and Italian support, political fragmentation, defeat in 1939.
- Francoism: autarky and repression to 1959, Stabilisation Plan, developmentalism, Juan Carlos designated in 1969, Carrero Blanco assassinated in 1973, the dictator's death in 1975.
- Transition: 1977 election, Moncloa Pacts, 1978 Constitution, the 1981 coup attempt, the 1982 socialist victory.
Worked example
Question: why did the Restoration system collapse? Reasoning: it depended on two dynastic parties alternating with a fabricated majority; it excluded the working class and peripheral nationalism; it was discredited by 1898 and the Moroccan defeats; and its repressive answers of 1917 and 1923 broke the constitutional framework itself. Tie each cause to a date - the marker wants the link between structural failure and event.
Traps
Calling Primo de Rivera's regime fascist from the outset; confusing the 1876 Constitution with 1869; mixing the Pact of Pardo (1885) with the Pact of San Sebastián (1930); describing the Transition as a clean break with Francoism; placing the 1978 Constitution before the 1977 elections.