Spain Throughout the Year

Throughout the year, Spain has seen numerous changes in government, religion, and politics, that shaped Spain into the nation it is today. In the beginning of the year Spain was ruled by monarchs such as Phillip II and Ferdinand/ Isabella but as we transitioned to Modern Day Spain, monarchial rule gradually disappeared until it ceased to exist. In the beginning of the year, Spain was a country based upon religion, notably Catholicism, the Spanish have been known to be devoutly religious, which then manifested itself into the inquisition in the 15th century, where all those who were not Catholic were exiled or killed. However, as we transitioned religion took on a lesser role although, it still remained extremely important in Spain. Spain endured many hardships and wars in order to get to the point they are today. Over the course of the year, Spain was involoved in wars with England, the U.S, and even internal strife in the form of civil war. The Spanish people also faced many hardships such as: economic depression, internal strife, and neglect by the monarchy. However, Spain was able to prevail and it is now one of the most prosperous nations in the world.

year review

spain changed throughout the year.Spain started as a poor country divided into kingdom and its people into social class systems.the kingdoms united and formed spain.spain became more power with philip making it the most powerful country at one point. then the down fall of spain after he tried attacking queen elizabeth with the spanish armada.their economy was great before the spanish armada then fell and today is back to normal after the world wars.

Spanish Economics - Year Review

At the beginning of the year, Spain was two separate kingdoms: Castille and Aragon. Therefore, there was no real economic unity in Spain, as the two kingdoms rivaled each other for economic superiority. However, when Ferdinand and Isabel married, thereby uniting the two kingdoms, Spain entered into a new era of economic prosperity. As Spain gained more land in the New World, the country became more affluent, due to the new influx of gold and other riches and commodities.
The economic supremecy of Spain ended shortly after the defeat of the Spanish Armada by Queen Elizabeth of England. They no longer ruled the seas, and soon began losing their colonies overseas. Spain began to lag behind the rest of Europe, and America, for that matter, technologically, and the country became poorer. This economic trait characterized Spain for years.
Spain's economy became Socialist in nature when the Spanish Socialist Workers Party gained control of the government in 1982. Since then it has joined the European Union and the economy has flourished. It is currently one of the 5 best economies in Europe. It adopted the euro in 2002.

Spain and Portugal During Cold War

Spain and Portugal, being in Western Europe were mostly uneffected by the influence of the Soviet Union. Spain became an integral part of the U.S plan in Europe and they maintained a military presence along the Mediterranean. Spain's economy was beginnig to rememerge and thrive during the Cold War. As a result of the Cold War Portugal there were numerous instabilities in Portugal's overseas colonies.

WWII Spain

During World War II, Spain allied with the Axis Powers, mainly because they were pressured to do so by Italy and Germany. Initially they planned to be neutral, but that proved to be difficult as they were in the cross-fire between the Allies and the Axis powers. On one hand they feared invasion by the allies and on the other, Hitler and Germany threatenened to invade Spain. Spain then became a pawn in Hitler's plan to control the Mediterranean along with Vichy France. In the end, Spain fell along with the rest of the axis powers in Europe.

WWII Italy

Italy was a country very involved in WWII. Mussolini had them enter the war with Germany in the Axis Powers. They were not a very strong military force in the war, and required Germany's assistance. The allies invaded Italy and quickly pushed upward as Mussolini was overthrown by rebels. Germany came into Italy to fight the Allies which lasted for the rest of the war. 

Spain's Position on the European Revolutions

Spain did not support the revolutions taking place throughout Europe. They certaintly did not want the Spanish people to decide to revolt as well. Spain decided to remove themselves from politics in order to maintain focus on the goings-on in their own country.

Spain Pre WWI

Spain was out of the foreign affairs and political scene leading up to the first World War. Spain maintained it's neutrality throughout the war because they did not have the means moniterally or technologically. Spain avoided entangling alliances in order to maintain their neutrality and stimulate the growth of their country.

Spain Leading up to World War I

Spain stayed out of the events leading up to WWI. Spain was gradually sinking into an almost "backwards" state, with their technology lagging behind the rest of Europe. Therefore, it did not have the necessary nationalism or power to unite and militarize to join a war. Spain also refrained from forming alliances, which further kept them out of World War I.

Spanish Monarch's View of the Various Revolutions

These revolutions which have been springing up across Europe certainly do frighten me. We here in Spain have been watching the various revolutions with great interest. We certainly do not support or condone them. I, for one, feel threatened by the revolutions. They could certainly spread to our great country. If so, I feel that countless lives will be lost, and the power of the monarchy will certainly be in jeaprody. Hopefully, if a revolution does spread into Spain, it will be harmless, as demonstrated through the various failed revolutions across Europe.

Spanish Peasant Point of view on liberalism

Liberalism sounds good to me. I want change i can't take this conservative approach of the goverment. Liberalism gives me liberty and equality. why should i be put into a social class. i don't want to be looked down upon. i want the freedoms liberalism will give me. Freedom of speech and freedom from arbitrary arrest along with this i want a goverment that will represent me and not rule on its own. As little interference from the goverment in private business would be good so that all people could have the possibility of owning a private business. Liberalism gives me everything i want.

A Spanish Monarchs view on Technology and Science

I am for the new technological advances taking place. The new advances could help improve the finance of our country and help make more jobs available. They can help make jobs easier and help to make our country richer. The new advances in science can help cure diseases and can help with the new technology. These advances will make our country richer and help to improve our economy

Spanish Aristocrat's View on Marxism

Opposed
I have just heard about Marxism and what it entails, after having read up on it, I do not like it and am opposed to it. If our government becomes communist than it will be detrimental to me and others like me. I will lose my social and economic standing and will be reduced to the level of a peasant. I will be forced to forfeit my wealth and influence among the royals and the aristocracy. I do not condone communism or wish for my country to become a communist country, I am thoroughly opposed to the ideology of communism.

Opposed

Rousseau on Spain

Jean Jacques Rousseau woul have viewed Spain in a positive light for the most part. However, he was opposed to one person wielding all of the power in governement and was more for rights of the individual as opposed to the rights of the whole. Although he opposed vesting so much power into one person he still would have appreciated the way that the citizens were treated and the way the nation was run.

Blog Makeup

During the time we are currently studying, Spain was exploring overseas and colonizing the new world. Their economy was flourishing and their colonies were yielding much wealth in the form of Sugar cane and Gold. Although their colonies were for the most part successful, the natives still posed problems for the Spanish explorers. Especially their South American colonies were the local Mestizos were evolting and posing problems.

France on Spain

France would have been very unhappy with what France recieved from the Congress of Vienna. France would have been disappointed in the ceding of French controlled land back to Spain and the fact that France got next to nothing out of Vienna. They would have also been unhappy about the fact that they had to pay a vast amount of indemnation and that Spain benefited way more out of the Congress of Vienna than they did.

Spain on France

Spain would have been very in favor of what happened to France at the Congress of Vienna for various reasons. They would have been for the restoraion of their own borders and regaining control of their own country. They would also have been in favor of having their monarchy restored and the sanctions on France and the rules set up to limit their powers. Overall, Spain would have been in favor of most of the happenings to France at the Congress of Vienna.

Spain's Thoughts on Vienna

Spain would have been both for and against the measures agreed upon at the congress of Vienna. They would have been for the fact that their borders were being restored and that they were no longer under the control of France. They would have also been for the restoration of the monarchy. However, they would not have been very much in favor of the fact that they recieved no additional rights/territories/wealth as a result of the Congress.

Spain On Austria

Spain did not really have much power during the Congress of Vienna and were angry towards the other countries for that. Austria would also not intervene in the problems between France and Spain in which Spain did not succeed. Spain did not think highly of Metternich and Austria during this time

Austria On Spain

Austria would have seen Spain as a weakening empire, with very little influence anymore. They wanted Spain to go independent and to rebuild themselves after Napoleons invasion. Spains economy was cripppled and they needed to rebuild and strengthen themselves. Austria would not really regard Spain as a power anymore though.

Napoleonic era

Napoleon went to spain to attempt to become king of spain. When he tried this a great revolt happened in 1808. The revolts were lead by catholics, monarchists, and patriots. Then when the french armies occupied madrid the revolters fled from the city. The events that happened in Spain gave a warning that resistance to france's imperialism was growing.Britain remained in war with france and helped the revolters in Spain. As a result the continental system was organized. Napoleon's plan was a failure.

Congress of Vienna's Effect on Spain

Spain was not involved in the Congress of Vienna. They were not considered to have aided in the fight against Napoleon's invasion. The Spanish people were not taken over by Napoleon because they successfully led a revolt against him when he had tried to take Spain over. Therefore, Spain was not included in negotiations to gain land.

Social Impact

Spain was greatly changed through their overseas exploration. Although they had withdrawn from European affairs, they did not relinquish their control of colonies in the Americas. Controlling areas primarily in South America, Spain controlled much of the sugar and gold trade. The native people were usually forced under a kind of enslavement by the ruling Spanish. However, often times natives and the ruling Spanish would intermarry, producing Mestizo children. Two new social classes were created by the Spanish conquest of the Americas. One was the aformentioned Mestizos and the other was the higher level Creoles, who were people of purely Spanish descent born in America.

Spanish Mercantalism

Spain prospered under the new form of economy called mercantalism. They also did well due to their strong alliance with France due to their relationship in the monarchy. Spain's colonies also helped strengthen spains economy with the slave trade and the gold and silver mined in their colonies. Mercantalism was one of the ideas spread by the enlightenment thinker Adam Smith, and became widely used all over Europe