transition to democracy (1956-1978)

• how did economic policies change in the late 50s?

  -abandonment of autarky

  • introduced free market policies
  • adopted stabilisation plan in 1959
• why were these economic changes necessary?

  lack of economic growth

  wanted to develop tourism

  reduce inflation
• what were the political consequences of the economic reform

  -coal miners in Asturias + construction workers in Madrid protested against regime

  -caused unrest + strikes throughout 1957 + 58

  -gov tackled uprising with police brutality
• when was the stablisation plan introduced?

  1959
• what changes did the stabilisation plan introduce?

  • peseta devalued
  • import + export ban lifted to encourage trading reductions in public spending
  • wage rates were frozen
  • credit = restricted
  • gov abandoned control over prices = free market
• why was the stabilization plan (1959) introduced?

  -devised by technocrat , break up corporatism and autarky

  -opened Spain's economy to other western economies
• give three ways in which Spain achieved an 'economic miracle' in 1960s?

  -increase in foreign investment = $7.6 billion + $1 billion in loans , encouraged modernization of economy

  -migration = open border encouraged free market of labour. Allows Spaniards to work abroad. Wealthy Persians came and studied in the 1960s.

  • increase in consumerism , average household salaries x3
• what was the economic impact of tourism?

  -contributed more than $1 billion to economy

  -tourist industry helped rejuvenate impoverished areas of Spain

  -agriculture tourism increased

  -increased female employment rates from 16% in 1950 to 30% in 1974

  -restaurants + hotels built along coast , employment rates increased , created lots of new jobs
• what was the social impact of tourism?

  -more western ideals spread , western fashion popular e.g bikinis

  - more people influenced to lead a more modern life e.g partying , drinking , smoking

  • life expectany went up. 1950 - 62 to 1975 in 73\
• what limitations were there on social change in Spain in the 1960s and early 1970s?

  catholic church still had major influence - homosexuality banned , abortion = illegal

  • production + sale of porn was banned
• why did economic changes , including tourism lead to rising social tension?

  country = catholic virtue , cities = moral slackness

  • gov sponsored films to encourage women to play traditional roles like 'city life ain't for me.'
  • women delayed having children to have an education
  • permissive youth culture
• why did the EU reject Spain's application for membership in 1967?

  • rejected due to undemocratic nature of Franco's regime
• law of associations (1964)

  • allowed establishment of small non-political groups
  • resulted in formation of neighborhood associations , housewife federations + parent groups
• press act (1966)

  • less censorship
  • newspapers = no longer censored , journalists = freedom in what stories they could print
  • regime imposed fines , sacked journalists hostile to regime
• organic law (1967)

  • cortes reformed , 20% of parliament = elected
  • independent political parties = illegal
• religious freedom act (1967)

  • practice of all major religions allowed.
  • civil marriages outside of church allowed
• how did franco attempt to suppress regional nationalism?

  • burning books in Basque language
  • Basque schools = universities closed to suppress local culture
  • banned Basque , Galician + Catalan languages (legally not recognised.)
  • other languages banned in schools , advertising etc
  • non spanish traditions suppressed
• outline how workers opposed the Franco regime?

  • workers = strikes (focus on better pay + conditions)
  • illegal worker commissions organised + to protest against poor pay
  • 1968 - 1,114,000 workers strikes against low wages
• outline how students opposed Franco regime?

  • protest marches , strikes , occupation of buildings
  • drawn to anarchism
  • 1969 = state of emergency declared in response to continued worker and student protest
• how did government respond to opposition : workers?

  • workers sacked
  • June 1969 = Granda police killed 3 strikers
  • support for ETA grew , they challenged power of Franco
• how did government respond to opposition : students?

  • banned student union (SEU) in 1965
  • tried to encourage them to join National movement in 1969, majority rejected
  • 1971 = martial law introduced in Grendada , failed
• how did the government respond to opposition : clergy?

  • supported propaganda campaign , highlighting growing danger of Marxist ideas in relation to church
  • 'concordant jail' established
  • Jan 1973 = Spanish published statement supporting democracy , called for an end to dictatorship
• how and why did relations with the USA improve in the 1960s and 1970s?

  • 1960s = Spain's economic growth improved political links + connections with outside world
  • 1970 = Nixon visited Franco , USA supported Franco (Caudilo)
  • American financial investment remained vital component of Spain's ongoing economy and social development