WHAT WAS SPAIN LIKE DURING FRANCO'S DICTATORSHIP?

After the Nationalists won the Spanish Civil War, Franco established his dictatorship. He took complete control of the country.
This dictatorship was based on three pillars: the military, the Catholic Church and the Falange.

• The constitution was abolished and there were no more democratic elections.
• Political parties became illegal.
• Trade unions becme illegal.
• Freedom of press was controlled by censorship.
• There was no regional autonomy.

Many people who opposed Franco went to live in the United Kingdom, France and other countries. Republicans who stayed in Spain were often imprisoned or killed.
In the 1940s and 1950s: there wasn't much food and most people were very poor. Spain didn't participate in the Second World War but Franco supported Germany. Spain wasn't allowed to be a member of the United Nations because it was a dictatorship.

In the 1960s: the economy started to improve. Tourism started to become important. Franco named Juan carlos de Borbón as his sucessor.
In the 1970s: Franco was ill and old. His supporters were divided: some wanted to continue as before and others wanted reform. Admiral Carrero Blanco was prime minister. He wanted to continue the dictatorship without any reforms. He was killed by the Basque terrorist group ETA in 1973. In 1975 Franco died and Juan Carlos became King of Spain.