WHAT ARE PUBLIC SERVICES?

Most autonomous communities are responsible for public services such as town planning and festivals.
Taxes are deducted from workers' salaries and profits that companies make. We pay an extra tax every time we buy something or use a service. This is sales tax or value added tax.
The government collects taxes. These taxes are spent on public services such as schools, hospitals, libraries, street cleaning, building roads and providing for people's pensions when they retire.

Hospitals are part of public services. Photo by Francis Tyers via wikipedia

HOW IS SPAIN ORGANISED?

Spain's 1978 Constitution established the organisation of the regions. It divided Spain's territory into 17 autonomous communities and 2 autonomous cities, Ceuta and Melilla, which are in North Africa.
There are 50 provinces.
Each autonomous community has its own Statute of Autonomy. The Statute of Autonomy defines:

• The territory of each autonomous community.
• The governmental institutions.
• Its official language(s), flag, coat of arms and anthem.

An autonomous community is subdivided into:

• A regional parliament, which has legislative powers.
• A government, which has executive powers.
• A Superior Court of Justice, which has judicial powers.

Photo from wikipedia.

By Emilio Gómez Fernández & Javi C. S. [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

HOW IS POWER DISTRIBUTED IN SPAIN?

The Spanish Constitution established the basic laws of the country.
The Constitution established the division of powers: legislative, executive and judicial. each power is controlled by only one institution, so they're independent.
Legislative power is exercised by the Parliament (Cortes Generales).
Parliament makes the laws, approves the state budget and monitors the activity of the government.
It's made up of two parts: the lower house, or Congress (Congreso de los Diputados) and the upper house, or Senate (el Senado).

The Spanish Congress. Photo by Luis Javier Modino Martínez [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

The Spanish Senate. By Lcsrns (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Deputies work in Congress and Senators work in the Senate. The senators represent the autonomous communties.
Deputies and Senators are elected by citizens in general elections every four years.
Executive power is exercised by the government. The government is composed of its leader, the president, and the ministers. The ministers are responsible for specific areas such as economy, education, health or industry. The government headquarters is Moncloa Palace.

Moncloa Palace. By Flizzz http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Flizzz [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Judicial power is exercised by the judicial system. It interprets the law and decides who is obeying the law or not. The judicial system imposes punishment for those who break the law. Judges work in courts and tribunals.

WHAT'S A DEMOCRACY?

Spain is a democracy. This means that there is freedom, justice and equality.
The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights establishes fundamental human rights for all.

Eleanor Roosevelt and United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Spanish text. See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

So people have rights, but they also have responsibilities.
Rights in democracy (freedom to do something):

• The right to an education.
• The right to food and shelter.
• The freedom to live and travel wherever we choose.
• The freedom to express our opinions.
• The right to associate with others.
• The right to be treated equally by the law.

Resposibilities in democracy:

• we must obey the law.
• We must pay taxes to support public services.
• We must not tolerate discrimination because of religion or race.
• We should look after our environment.
• We should look after people who are weaker than us.
• We should be kind to animals.
• Voting.

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.

WHAT ARTISTIC MOVEMENTS WHERE THERE IN THE 19TH CENTURY?

Romanticism: was a reaction to the Industrial Revolution. Romantic art focused on subjects as nature, religion, emotions, revolution and beauty. Goya was an example of Romanticism art.

El Quitasol. Goya. Wikimedia Commons.

Realism: was a reaction against Romanticism. Artists and writers focused on the working classes and their reality of everyday life. Martí I Alsina was an example.

Born Vell. Marti i Alsina. From Wikimedia Commons.

Modernism emerged in Cataluña and is associated with the architect Gaudí. He was inspired by nature and Religion.

Gaudi's Sagrada Familia. By Sagrada Família (oficial) (Own work). 
Wikimedia Commons

WHAT HAPPENED IN SPAIN IN THE LATE 19th CENTURY?

Isabel II was the queen (1833-1868). It was a period of instability in Spain. There were frequent changes of government and military coups. Isabel was forced to leave Spain in 1868 and she abdicated. The monarchy was restored in 1874. The period after that is known as the Restoration.

After Isabel II left Spain:

• Amadeo of Savoy, an Italian prince, became king of Spain in 1871, chosen by the Cortes. But he faced a lot of opposition and he abdicated in 1873.

• In 1873 the First Republic was proclaimed. In 1874 there was a military coup led by General Martínez Campos, and the Republic ended.

In 1874 the Restoration began. Alfonso XII, Isabel II’s son, returned to Spain to become king. The politician Antonio Cánovas Del Castillo prepared it.

He organized a political system with two political parties: the Conservatives (led by Cánovas) and the Liberals (led by Sagasta). There were elections but only some men could vote. The elections were manipulated and both parties took turns in the government. This was a period of stability which lasted into the 20th century.

HOW DID SOCIETY CHANGE IN THE 19TH CENTURY?

Before the Industrial Revolution:

Society was divided into three groups – estates (it was difficult for people to change classes):

• The clergy, owned most of the land and had special privileges.

• The nobility, owned most of the land and had special privileges.

• Ordinary people, paid taxes and had no privileges.

After the Industrial Revolution:

There were three classes with big differences between them but no one was given special privileges:

• The upper class: rich factory owners and bankers and the nobility.

• The middle class (bourgeoisie): civil servants, lawyers, doctors, merchants and small landowners.

• The working class (proletariat):  factory workers and peasants.

HOW DID THE ECONOMY CHANGE IN THE 19TH CENTURY?

The Industrial Revolution began in Great Britain in the 18th century with the invention of the steam engine. Products could be made in factories instead of by hand. Industry expanded and became more important than agriculture.

During the 19th century the Industrial Revolution took place in Europe. These changes happened more slowly in Spain. Spain’s economy was based mainly in agriculture in the 19th century.

But, there were textile factories in Cataluña, mining in Asturias and Río Tinto in Huelva and the steel industry developed in País Vasco.

Transport was transformed by the invention of the steam engine. In the second half of the 19thcentury the Spanish railway network expanded rapidly. This helped industry to develop (it was easier to transport people and products.

THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR

In 1898 Spain fought a war against the United States because they supported the independence movement of Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines. The United States defeated Spain. So Spain lost control of it last colonies to the United States. This event is known as the Disaster of ’98. It was the end of the Spanish Empire.

USS Maine entering Havana harbor. [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SPANISH EMPIRE DURING THE 19TH CENTURY?

At the start of the 19th century, Spain controlled most of Central and South America, as well as the Philippines in Asia. But by the end of the century, Spain had lost its last colonies.

Between 1810 and 1825 most of Spain’s colonies became independent, for two reasons:

• The colonists were influenced by the French Revolution. They wanted more rights and freedom from Spanish control.

• Spain was busy fighting against the French people, so its control over the colonies was weaker. The colonies won their independence.

Haiti became independent in 1804. Argentina and Colombia in 1810. Paraguay and Venezuela in 1811. Chile in 1818. Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Peru in 1821. Ecuador in 1822. Bolivia in 1825. Uruguay in 1828. Dominican Republic in 1844. And, finally, Cuba, Puerto Rico and Philippines in 1902.

Spanish Empire at its greatest extent (1790). By Nagihuin (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Spain in 1898. By Xaverius (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

THE CARLISTS WARS

At this time only males could inherit the throne. Fernando VII and his wife, María Cristina had a daughter, Isabel, but they didn´t have any sons. So, Fernando’s brother, Carlos would be the next king. Fernando VII changed the law so that Isabel could be queen. Fernando died in 1833. Isabel was three years old. Her mother, María Cristina, ruled until Isabel was 18. This caused a series of conflicts named the Carlist Wars:

• The liberals supported Maria Cristina and Isabel II. The liberals supported the ideas of the French Revolution and the Constitution of Cádiz (economic reforms and less power to the monarchy and the Catholic Church).

• The Carlists (conservatives) supported Carlos (Fernando’s VII brother). They wanted a powerful Catholic Church and an absolute monarchy.

The First Carlist War began in 1833 and ended in 1839. The liberals won. The Second Carlist War began in 1846 and ended in 1849. The Third Carlist War began in 1872 and ended in 1876. The liberals won the three of them.

María Cristina, by Vicente López y Portaña [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

Isabel II niña. By Carlos Luis de Ribera y Fieve [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Isabell II queen of Spain. See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

Carlos María Isidro De Borbón, Fernando VII's brother. Vicente López y Portaña [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

THE SPANISH WAR OF INDEPENDENCE

The French army was occupying Spain. On 2 May 1808 there was a revolt in Madrid against the French. This was the beginning of the Spanish War of Independence. The war ended in 1814.

Scene from Spanish War of Independence, by Goya. By Yelkrokoyade (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons.

The Spanish people fought a guerrilla war against the French army. The French army soon controlled most of Spain. Spain had two governments. A French government in Madrid, headed by Napoleon’s brother, Joseph I (Pepe Botella). 

Joseph Bonaparte. Photo by François Gérard [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

And a Spanish government in Cádiz headed by Fernando VII (Carlos IV’s son).

Fernando VII by Goya. Via Wikimedia Commons.

In 1812 the Spanish government in Cádiz approved a new Constitution, called the Constitution of Cádiz (la Pepa). It was Spain’s first liberal constitution:

• The power of the monarchy was reduced.

• Ordinary people could vote in elections (only men).

• Government was separated into three branches: legislative, executive and judicial.

• Freedom of press was established.

• The Spanish Inquisition was abolished.

Constitution of Cadiz, known as "La Pepa". Photo voa Wikimedia Commons.

Spain defeated the French army in 1814 and Fernando VII returned to power. He abolished the Constitution of Cádiz and restored the absolute monarchy.

THE MODERN AGE

The Modern Age starts with the French Revolution, in 1789. The French people rebelled against their king, Louis XVI.

Louis XVI by Antoine-François Callet. From Wikimedia Commons.

Europe was in crisis. Louis XVI, the French king, ruled as an absolute monarch, he had all power. There were great inequalities between the nobility and the ordinary people (who were extremely poor).

On 14 July 1789 the people of Paris attacked the Bastille prison. The revolt spread from Paris to other parts of France. The king was killed in 1793 and the monarchy was abolished.

As a result of the revolution, France became a republic:

• Power was separated into three branches: legislative, executive and judicial.

• The law recognized all citizens as equal (no privileges for the nobility).

• Ordinary people could vote in elections (only men).

The central ideas of the French Revolution were liberty, equality and fraternity.

Photo by Meryabad.

During the French Revolution Napoleon Bonaparte was a military commander. He became Emperor of France in 1804. He wanted to establish a big empire conquering other European countries.

Napoleon Bonaparte. By Halldór Axel (Own work) via Wikimedia Commons.

Spain was ruled by Carlos IV, but Manuel de Godoy, his prime minister, was really in control. In 1807 Napoleon and Godoy signed the Treaty of Fontainebleau. This allowed the French army to cross Spain to conquer Portugal. When the French army was in Spain, Napoleon decided to conquer Spain.

Carlos IV by Goya. Via Wikimedia Commons.

Manuel De Godoy by Agustín Esteve y Marqués. Via Wikimedia Commons.

EUROPE'S COASTLINE

Europe is made up of many peninsulas, thousands of islands, capes, fjords and rias.
The main southern peninsulas are the Iberian Peninsula, the Italian Peninsula, the Balkan Peninsula, the Peloponnese Peninsula and the Crimean Peninsula. In the north, the Scandinavian Peninsula.
Some of Europe's islands are countries: Iceland, Ireland, Cyprus and Malta. Others are part of countries: Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands in Spain and the Azores and Madira in Portugal. Greenland (Denmark) is Europe's largest island.

Capes are large areas of land which protrude into the sea. Some of the important capes in Europe are Capes San Vicente and Roca in Portugal, Fisterra and Cabo de Gata in Spain, North Cape in Norway, Cape Matapan in Greece and Land's End in the United Kingdom.

Fjords are inlets in the coast formed by glaciers. The coasts of Norway and Greenland have many fjords.

Rias are river valleys flooded by rising sea levels. The best-known rias are on the coast of Galicia.