SCIENCE--SPAIN IN THE 20TH AND 21ST CENTURIES

A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THIS UNIT

- THERE WERE MANY ECONOMIC CHANGES IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY.

- THE BEGINNING OF THE 20TH CENTURY WAS A PERIOD OF SPLENDOR IN LITERATURE, SCIENCE AND ART.

- THE CIVIL WAR STARTED IN 1936. AT THE END OF THE WAR FRANCO'S DICTATORSHIP WAS IMPOSED.

- A TRANSITION TOWARDS DEMOCRACY BEGAN AFTER THE DICTATORSHIP.

-THE CURRENT CONSTITUTION WAS ADOPTED IN 1978.

-SPAIN IS CURRENTLY A PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACY.

THE EARLY DECADES OF 20TH CENTURY

From the 1900s to 1936 Spain experienced a period of great change, including:

• Fast and intense industrial development: Production and work in the factories increased after 1900.
• Major social changes: Emigration from countryside increased and cities became very large and the industrial development created bigger differences between classes.
• There were serious political problems: there were several strikes and protest.

After the elections, The Second Republic was proclaimed in 1931:

• It established a Democratic Goverment: Citizens have equal right, and woman obtained the right to vote.
• It started major social reforms to improve the living conditions of the citizens.

THE CIVIL WAR AND THE DICTATORSHIP

In 1936 started the Civil War when a group of military rebelled against the Republic.. It lasted until 1939. This war caused many deaths and economic loss. The military rebelled won, and a dictatorship led by General Franco was imposed. This new political system:

• The freedoms and the political rights of people were suspended.
• Many people were persecuted for their beliefs.
• Many Spaniard had to leave Spain to work.

THE TRANSITION AND THE EARLY 21ST CENTURY

General Franco died in 1975 and Juan Carlos I was proclaimed king of Spain. From that moment:

• The Democratic transition began: the political freedoms and political right were restored.
• The current Constitution was approved in 1978.
• There was a great economic and social modernisation. Services Sectors, trade and education grew along the industry
• Spain joined  the European Union in 1986

VOCABULARY

       ·         Change: cambio

·         Beginning: comienzo

·         Dictatorship: dictadura

·         Began: pasado de begin: comenzar

·         Currently: actualmente

·         Early: pronto

·         Increase: incrementar

·         Fast: rápido

·         Establish: establecer

·         Right: derecho, derecha

·         Parliamentary democracy: democracia parlamentaria

·         Impose: imponer

·         Transition: transición

·         Strike: huega, paro

·         Protest: protestas

·         Citizen: ciudadanos

·         Second Republic: Segunda República

·         Obtain: obtener

·         Social reforms: reformas sociales

·         Improve: mejorar

·         Living conditions: condiciones de vida

·         Against: en contra

·         Last: último, durar

·         Until: hasta

·         Death: muerte

·         Economic loss: pérdidas económicas

·         Political system: sistema político

·         Persecute: perseguir

·         Believe, beliefs: creencia, creencias

·          Spaniard: españoles

·         Leave: abandonar

·         Transition: transición

·         Proclaim: proclamar

·         Freedom: libertad

·         Restored: restaurada

·         Current: actual

·         Grew: pasado de grow, crecer