The following timeline displays major periods in contemporary Spanish history and may be helpful for contextualizing the films and readings used in this course.
Major Periods in Contemporary Spanish History
1898-1936 Early Twentieth Century
1936-1939 Civil War
The Republic: Republicans, Loyalists, the Left
The Franco Side: Rebels, Nationalists, the Right
1939-1975 Franco Regime
1939 Franco Victory: Periods in the Dictatorship
1945 - International Isolation
1953 - Military Pact with the U.S.
1969 - Juan Carlos Designated as Future King
1975 - Franco Dies
1975 Democratic Spain Emerges
1975 - Juan Carlos' Coronation
1976 - Adolfo Suárez is named President of the Government
1977 - Legalization of Political Parties
Including the Communist Party, Strikes, Amnesty for Political Prisoners
Right wing attack on labor lawyers in Madrid: 5 killed and many more wounded; peaceful protest of the act involving millions across the country
1978 - Provisional Constitution Adopted
1979 - General and Municipal Elections Held
1980 - First Autonomous Elections in the Basque Country and in Cataluña; Constitutional Court Begins to Function
1981 - Military Coup Fails
1982 - Socialist Party Wins in General Elections; Felipe Gónzalez President
1986 - Spain Joins the European Community
1992 - Olympics, World's Fair, 500th Anniversary of "Discovery"