HOW HAVE ART AND CULTURE DEVELOPED IN SPAIN IN THE 20TH CENTURY?

Spain has produced some of the most famous artists of this period.
Cubism and Surrealism were artistic movements that developed in the first half of the 20th century.
Cubism used geometric shapes to represent people and things.
Pablo Picasso was one of the inventors of Cubism. His painting Guernica is a good example.

Picasso. By Revista Vea y Lea (cuadrado por Juan Pablo Arancibia Medina) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Guernica. Photo by jmussuto, via Bethany Lutheran College.

Surrealism represented imaginary scenes and fantasies. Salvador Dalí (The persistence of memory)

Salvador Dalí. By Roger Higgins, World Telegram staff photographer [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The persistence of memory. Via Wikipedia

 and Joan Miró (Harlequin's carnival)

Joan Miró (1935). Photo by Carl Van Vechten [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The Harlequin's Carnival. Photo from Wikipedia.

were important Surrealist artists.
Abstract art developed in the second half of the 20th century. It represented ideas rather than reality.
Eduardo Chillida was an important abstract sculptor (Eulogy to the Horizon).

Eduardo Chillida. Photo from Wikipedia.

By Roberto Sueiras Revuelta. (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY-SA 2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

The Generation of '27 was a group of poets who experimented with new styles of poetry and artistic expression.

The Generation of '27. Photo from https://kbenglishhlg.wikispaces.com/Generation+27

The group included Miguel Hernandez and Federico García Lorca. The Civil War split the group: García Lorca was killed by the Nationalists and Miguel Hernández died in prison.

Federico García Lorca. See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Miguel Hernández. See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN SPAIN SINCE 1975?

Today, Spain is a democracy. Every four years there are elections to choose the government.
After Juan Carlos became king in 1975, the transition to democracy began. It ended in 1978 with a new constitution. Important reforms were introduced by the Prime Minister, Adolfo Suarez.

By Verhoeff, Bert / Anefo (Nationaal Archief) [CC BY-SA 3.0 nl (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/nl/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons

• All political parties were made legal.
• There was a democratic election in 1977.
• A new constitution was written.

By Infinauta (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

 In 1978 people voted in favor of the constitution in a referendum. It established that:
Citizens have rights and responsibilities. Everyone must obey the law.
Citizens vote for their representatives freely in elections.
Spain recognizes regional autonomy.
Spain is a parliamentary monarchy. The monarch is head of state but doesn´t govern or make laws.
Government is separated into three branches: the legislative, executive and judicial branches.

Since the transition two parties have governed Spain most of the time: the Socialist party (PSOE) and the Popular party (PP).
In 1981 there was an attempt military coup against the government led by Tejero. It failed.

Tejero. Photo by Manuel Pérez Barriopedro

In 1986 Spain became a member of the EEC (now UE).

By MPD01605 [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

In 1992 the euro replaced the peseta as Spain´s currency.

By Iu96 (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

By Avij (talk · contribs) (Own work) [ECB decisions ECB/2003/4 and ECB/2003/5 or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons</a>

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.

WHAT WAS THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR?

In July 1936 a military rebellion began in Spanish Morocco. Its leader was General Francisco Franco.

Francisco Franco. Via Wikimedia Commons

The rebels took control of parts of Spain. The country became divided between areas controlled by the Nationalists (the rebels led by Franco) and areas controlled by the Second Republic.

Spanish Civil War August-September 1936. Booshank at en.wikipedia [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], from Wikimedia Commons

Franco and the Nationalists were opposed to the changes of the Second Republic. They wanted to replace the republic with a right-wing dictatorship (Germany and Italy supported them). The Republicans supported the Second Republic (Russia, the Soviet Union, supported them).
For three years there was fighting, until the Nationalists took control of Madrid. The war ended in April 1939. The Nationalists won, the Second Republic ended and Franco established a right-wing dictatorship.

Consequences from the war:

• 365.000 people died.
• Many people lost their family.
• People were imprisoned or killed because of their opinions (Nationalists who lived in the Republican zones and Republicans who lived in the Nationalists zones).
• Roads, bridges, railways and buildings were destroyed.
• People became ill because there wasn't enough food.

WHAT HAPPENED IN SPAIN IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY?

The start of the 20th century was the continuation of the Restoration, which began when Alfonso XII became king in 1874. Alfonso XII died in 1885.

Alfonso XII and his second wife María Cristina. By F. Barcia Viet. Sevilla (Los Borbones) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

 Spain was ruled by his wife María Cristina until Alfonso XIII turned 16 in 1902.

Alfonso XIII. By Christian Franzen [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

 During Alfonso XIII's reign Spain experienced political and social conflict.

• The Liberals and Conservatives continued to take turns in government. Republican parties, the Socialist party and nationalist parties in Cataluña and Pais Vasco opposed them.
• There were many strikes, workers demanded better working conditions.
• Spain was involved in military conflict in its new colonies in Morocco.

In 1923 there was a military coup. General Primo de Rivera established a dictatorship with Alfonso XIII's support:

• The constitution was suspended, the king lost most of his powers.
• Political parties became illegal.
• Freedom of press was limited by censorship.

Alfonso XII y Miguel Primo de Rivera. Bundesarchiv, Bild 102-09411 / Unknown / CC-BY-SA 3.0 [CC BY-SA 3.0 de (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons

At first Primo de Rivera was supported by many people. Later on he had the opposition from the army and from Alfonso XIII. Primo de Rivera resigned in 1930.

 In 1931 the Republicans and the Socialists won the municipal elections and the Second Republic began. Manuel Azaña became president.

Manuel Azaña. See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

There was a new constitution and Spain became a democracy: all men and women could vote. There were many other changes:

• The church lost control of education. Public schools were established.
• There was more regional autonomy. There was a statute of autonomy for Cataluña. 
• The Industrial Revolution changed how society was organised.

These reforms divided Spanish society and caused political conflict.: Left-wing people supported the changes,  Right-wing people opposed the changes.