Foundations

Franco became the ruler of Spain after the Civil War (1936-1939):However, Franco had already concentrated powers within the rebel side during the war:

• He was appointed Generalísimo de los Ejércitos (Supreme General of the Armies) in September 1936.
• He was also appointed as Head of the State and the Government on 1 October 1936.
• Franco was also the only leader of Falange Española y de las JONS.

Francoism rejected the national sovereignty and representative democracy:

• • There was not any political or trade union freedom.
  • There was an official Trade Union: Sindicato Vertical, whose members were workers and employers.

Francoist ideology was known as Movimiento Nacional, whose main principles were:

Fascism:

• • Falange was conceived as a Fascist party whose main leader was Franco.
  • Franco was given the title of Caudillo.
  • Fascist symbols were adopted, such as the salute, paramilitary uniforms, or the emblem of the yoke and the arrows.

Nationalism and centralism:

• • The statutes of autonomy were abolished as well as other languages or flags other than the Spanish.
  • There were military parades, hymns, and exaltation of the national flag.

National-Catholicism:

• • Francoism was legitimised by the Catholic Church since the Civil War was considered a crusade against Marxist atheism.
    

    National-Catholicism
  • Catholicism was the official religion of Spain.

Traditionalism:

• • The Habsburg Imperial Spain was the model Franco followed.
  • Liberalism and enlightenment were blamed for the decline of Spain.

Franco had some supporters within Spain:

• The Army, the Catholic Church, and Falange. Initially the monarchists also supported Franco since they thought that monarchy would be re-established.
• Landowners, businessmen and bankers also supported Franco. Little by little the middle class also accepted his regime since they preferred a better standard of living.