How far reaching was economic and social change in the years 1956-75? - ECONOMIC PROBLEMS IN THE 1950s

Question 1

How did Spain’s economy perform since the end of the civil war?

Answer 1

Spanish economy had performed sluggishly since the end of the civil war - 1939

Question 2

What was Spain’s economic position after WW2?

Answer 2

International trade slowly improved after WW2 + received American loans

Question 3

What was Spain’s economic position mid 1950s?

Answer 3

mid 1950s economic problems mounted to a seriously destabilising extent

Question 4

When was the Treaty of Madrid?

Answer 4

1953

Question 5

What was the Treaty of Madrid?

Answer 5

loans from USA

Question 6

What was the issue with the Treaty of Madrid?

Answer 6

Limited in impact as government declared they could only be used within Spain

Question 7

What was the effect of the USA loan only being used in Spain?

Answer 7

Too much currency in circulation in the domestic economy

Question 8

What did too much of the currency from the USA loan being in circulation mean?

Answer 8

Not sufficient goods to purchase -> surge of inflation on consumer goods

Question 9

What was another economic issue related to this inflation?

Answer 9

Rise in inflation appeared to be a long-term problem and wages could not keep up

Question 10

Inflation in the 50s fact?

Answer 10

1956-1959 20% inflation per year

Question 11

Economic status of Spain in 1959?

Answer 11

1959 Spain was virtually bankrupt

Question 12

What was unemployment at in 1959?

Answer 12

1959 - unemployment at 35%

Question 13

What started to appear due to the economic issues + when in the 1950s?

Answer 13

1957 – stirrings of discontent began to appear

Question 14

Who was the initial discontent from?

Answer 14

Working-class/student protests

Question 15

What did the working-class/student protests want?

Answer 15

demanded economic reform + fewer government restrictions

Question 16

What did younger and more radical Falange party members demand?

Answer 16

demanded urgent remedial action – re-emphasis of Nationalist policies: fascism, autarky, controlled economic regulation the answer

Question 17

Example of a younger and more radical Falange party members

Answer 17

Jose Luis de Arrese

Question 18

When was Morocco granted independence?

Answer 18

1956

Question 19

What effect did Morocco being granted independence have on Nationalist supporters?

Answer 19

humiliating to Nationalist supporters + destroyed hope of overseas empire

Question 20

What was the overall impact of the economic problems of the 50s?

Answer 20

showed repression + censorship remained in place but not enough to keep the gov in power in an econ recession was to be long term
+ therefore
late 1950s onwards Franco’s regime chose to follow a revised economic agenda (move away from falangist approach)