November 22, 1975 – Juan Carlos becomes King of Spain following the death of General Franco
On November 22, 1975, Juan Carlos became King of Spain after the death of General Francisco Franco two days earlier. Franco had ruled Spain as a dictator since emerging victorious in the Spanish Civil War in the late 1930s. As his health declined, Franco appointed Prince Juan Carlos as his successor in 1969, which was approved by the Spanish parliament on July22, 1969. Juan Carlos also temporarily took over as the country’s head of state during periods of Franco’s incapacity in 1974 and 1975.
Franco had hoped that Juan Carlos would continue the government’sultra-conservative and authoritarian policies. Instead, King Juan Carlos dismantledFranco’s totalitarian regime and transitioned Spain into democracy and a parliamentarymonarchy which it is today.
Taken from Spanish Civil War – Wars of the 20th Century – Volume 3)
Aftermath Followingthe war, General Franco established a right-wing, anti-communist dictatorialgovernment centered on the Falange Party. Socialists, communists, and anarchists, were outlawed, as werefree-party politics. Political enemieswere killed or jailed; perhaps as many as 200,000 lost their lives in prison orthrough executions. The politicalautonomies of Basque and Cataloniawere voided. These regions’ culture,language, and identity were suppressed, and a single Spanish national identitywas enforced.
After World War II ended, Spainbecame politically and economically isolated from most of the internationalcommunity because of General Franco’s affiliation with the defeated fascistregimes of Germany and Italy. Then with increasing tensions in the Cold Warbetween the United Statesand Soviet Union, the U.S.government became drawn to Spain’sstaunchly anti-communist stance and strategic location at the western end ofthe Mediterranean Sea.
In September 1953, Spainand the United Statesentered into a defense agreement known as the Pact of Madrid, where the U.S. government infused large amounts ofmilitary assistance to Spain’sdefense. As a result, Spain’s diplomatic isolation ended,and the country was admitted to the United Nations in 1955.
Its economy devastated by the civil war, Spain experienced phenomenaleconomic growth during the period from 1959 to 1974 (known as the “SpanishMiracle”) when the government passed reforms that opened up the financial andinvestment sectors. Spain’s totalitarian regime endedwith General Franco’s death in 1975; thereafter, the country transitioned to ademocratic parliamentary monarchy which it is today.
