Spain, 1930-78: Republicanism, Francoism and the Re-Establishment of Democracy | Edexcel A-Level History (9HI0)

Spain, 1930-78: Republicanism, Francoism and the Re-Establishment of Democracy

156 questions
16 subtopics
Paper 2: the depth study, one option of sixteen
Paper 2

A Paper 2 depth study of Spain from the fall of the monarchy to the constitution of 1978, covering the Second Republic and the polarisation that destroyed it, the civil war and why the Nationalists won, the Franco dictatorship in its repressive and its developmental phases, and the transition to democracy after his death..

It covers spain, 1930–31, years of reform, 1931–33, years of reaction, 1933–36, the failure of the Popular Front 1936, spain at the outbreak of war July–August 1936, the course of the war, life during the war, reasons for Nationalist victory, creation of the ‘new state’, controlling society under Franco, economic development under Franco, the dictatorship and foreign relations, 1939–56, economic and social change, 1956–75, political developments, 1956–75, planning and managing succession and transition to democracy.

Sample questions from Spain, 1930-78: Republicanism, Francoism and the Re-Establishment of Democracy

Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.

Spain, 1930–31

What was the Primo de Rivera dictatorship?

Show the answer
The military regime of 1923-30, initially popular for restoring order and building infrastructure, which collapsed under debt and lost army support.
Years of reaction, 1933–36

Why did the right win the 1933 elections?

Show the answer
The left was divided and the anarchists abstained, while Catholics and conservatives organised effectively in CEDA under a system that rewarded coalitions.
Spain at the outbreak of war July–August 1936

Who led the Nationalists at the start?

Show the answer
A junta of generals, complicated by Sanjurjo's death in a plane crash and Jose Antonio's imprisonment and execution, which cleared Franco's path.
Life during the war

What was life like in the Nationalist zone?

Show the answer
Ordered and hierarchical: the Church restored to authority, strict social discipline, censorship, and a food supply better than the Republic's.
Creation of the ‘new state’

What was the FET y de las JONS?

Show the answer
The single party created by the Unification Decree of 1937, combining Falangists and Carlists, which gave Franco a political organisation he personally controlled.
Economic development under Franco

Why did autarky fail?

Show the answer
Spain lacked the raw materials, capital and technology to be self-sufficient, and price controls produced shortages, a vast black market and stagnation.
Economic and social change, 1956–75

What were the Development Plans?

Show the answer
Indicative economic plans for 1964-67, 1968-71 and 1972-75 directed by Lopez Rodo, which offered tax and credit incentives to firms investing in designated poles of development.
Planning and managing succession

What was the Organic Law of the State?

Show the answer
The constitutional law approved by referendum in December 1966 which defined the powers of the head of state and created a separate office of head of government.

The 16 subtopics

One subtopic is one session. Work down the list.

Subtopic	What it covers	Questions
Spain, 1930–31	Recall questions on the fall of Alfonso XIII, the Primo de Rivera dictatorship, the Pact of San Sebastian, the power of the Church and army, and regional tensions.	10
Years of reform, 1931–33	Recall questions on Azana, the 1931 constitution, the religious and military reforms, agrarian reform, the Catalan Statute, and why the coalition fell apart.	10
Years of reaction, 1933–36	Recall questions on the rise of CEDA and Gil Robles, why the right won in 1933, the undoing of the reforms, and the Asturias rising and its repression.	10
The failure of the Popular Front 1936	Recall questions on the February election, why the government struggled, the scale of political violence, Calvo Sotelo's murder, and who planned the rising.	10
Spain at the outbreak of war July–August 1936	Recall questions on how Spain divided, the advantages of each side, the leadership, the airlift of the Army of Africa, and the killings in both zones.	10
The course of the war	Recall questions on the failure to take Madrid, the northern campaign, the Ebro, Guernica, Republican disunity and the May Days, and how the war ended.	10
Life during the war	Recall questions on collectivisation in the Republican zone, life under the Nationalists, women in the two zones, the evacuated children, and the bombing of cities.	10
Reasons for Nationalist victory	Recall questions on Republican weaknesses, Nationalist strengths, Franco's leadership, the gold sent to Moscow, and how decisive foreign intervention was.	10
Creation of the ‘new state’	Recall questions on the Unification Decree and the single party, the repeal of Republican legislation, the Law of Political Responsibilities, and National Catholicism.	10
Controlling society under Franco	Recall questions on the pact of silence, censorship, the Church's role in education and marriage, the suppression of regional languages, and the position of women.	10
Economic development under Franco	Recall questions on the damage of the war, autarky and why it failed, the years of hunger, the INI, corporatism, and the crisis that forced change.	10
The dictatorship and foreign relations, 1939–56	Recall questions on neutrality and the Blue Division, the shift towards the Allies, isolation after 1945, the Pact of Madrid, and admission to the UN.	8
Economic and social change, 1956–75	Recall questions on the Stabilisation Plan, the technocrats and Opus Dei, emigration and remittances, tourism, and how the boom changed Spanish society.	9
Political developments, 1956–75	Recall questions on the decline of the Falange, the Press Law of 1966, the change in the Church's position, the Workers' Commissions, ETA, and the Burgos trial.	9
Planning and managing succession	Recall questions on the Law of Succession, why Juan Carlos was chosen over his father, Carrero Blanco and his assassination, and the state of Spain in 1975.	10
Transition to democracy	Recall questions on the role of Juan Carlos, Adolfo Suarez, the Law for Political Reform, the pact of forgetting, the Moncloa Pacts, and the coup attempt of 1981.	10

Spain, 1930-78: Republicanism, Francoism and the Re-Establishment of Democracy is 156 of the 6,832 questions in the guide.Get the guide, £9

How the guide is worked

Answering a question from memory stores it far better than reading the answer again. The guide runs that as a fixed procedure on one subtopic at a time, about twenty minutes a session.

Step 1 · Closed book
Cover the answers. Work through one subtopic and write down what you can. Leave blanks where you have nothing.
Step 2 · Open book
Go back to the top. Read each printed answer and write it out in full, including the ones you had right.
Step 3 · Closed book again
Same questions, same order, from memory. The gap between pass one and pass three is the session result.

Read the full method, the return schedule and the research behind it.