Key Events In The 20th-21st Century Flashcards
1936 - Spanish Civil War
Between the Republicans and the Nationalists led by Francisco Franco. Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy supported Nationalists
1939 - Civil War ends
Nationalists win the civil war and Francisco Franco becomes dictator of Spain
1946-1950
Francois Spain is ostracised by the UN and many countries sever their diplomatic relations
1950s
- USA gradually improves relations w/Spain by extending loans in return for military bases
1955 - Spain admitted to UN
1958 - Spain admitted to World Bank
Other European countries open up to the Franco government - El Milagro Español - an economic boom due to manufacturing and tourism industries
1959 - ETA is founded
Armed separatist group ETA is founded with the aim of fighting for an independent homeland in the Basque region of Spain
1975 - Franco government ends
Franco dies and is succeeded as the head of state by King Juan Carlos = Spain makes transition from dictatorship to democracy
1977 - Back to right wing
Ex Francois Adolfo Suarez (of the Union Democratic Centre is elected as PM in Spain’s first free election in four decades
1978
The Spanish Constitution is issued granting freedom of speech, press, religion and association
1982 - Back to left wing
- Socialists under Felipe Gonzalez win elections
- Free education, an expanded welfare state and liberalisation of abortion laws are key policies
- Spain joins NATO
1986 - EEC
Spain joins the European Economic Community (later became the European Union, EU)
1996 - back to right wing
José María Aznar (of the Conservative political party) becomes PM
2004 - terrorist attacks
- 191 people are killed in explosions on rush-hour trains in Madrid in near-simultaneous pre-election terrorist attacks.
- With Spain still in mourning the Socialists under Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero defy earlier opinion polls win a general election
2005 - LGBTQ+
Parliament defies the Roman Catholic Church by legalising gay marriage and granting homosexual couples the same adoption and inheritance rights as heterosexual ones
2007
Parliament passes a bill formally denouncing General Franco’s rule and ordering the removal of all Franco era statues and symbols from public spaces
2009 - Economic Crisis
Spain enters an economic.
- in the following year the unemployment rate climbs to over 20% for the first time in nearly 13 years
2011
Conservative popular party wins resounding victory in parliamentary election. The new government headed by Mariano Rajoy takes office.
New round of austerity measures announced
2014
King Juan Carlos abdicates and is succeeded by his son, the crown Prince as Felipe VI
2017
Madrid imposes direct rule in Catalonia after voters in a referendum back separation from Spain
2018 - ETA
Basque separatist group ETA announces it is ceasing all political activities
2018 - back to left wing
Mariano Rajoy loses a vote of confidence. Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez takes over as prime minister
2019 - Vox
April:
Vox becomes the first far right party to win seats since the death of Francisco Franco in 1975
November:
Fourth general election in as many years leaves Socialists still short of a majority while Vox more than doubles its seats to become the third-largest party
2020
Pedro Sánchez forms minority coalition government with left-wing Podemos party after winning a narrow parliamentary vote of confidence
2023
In the election the conservative Popular Party won the most votes but failed to win the majority
After obtaining the support of the left wing Sumar alliance as well as a series of pro independence and regionalist political parties, Sanchez secures a majority
