CHRONOLOGY - Spain and Portugal: A Reference Guide from the Renaissance to the Present - page 439

ing a dictatorship that will last until his
death in 1975.

growing boldness among the critics of his
regime and a rising standard of living.

1939-45
World War II. Spain remains neutral, al-
though Franco is clearly sympathetic to
the Axis Powers. Salazar also proclaims
neutrality, but he eventually allows U.S.
and British air forces to use the Azores for
patrol operations.

1968
Salazar suffers a paralyzing stroke and can
no longer carry out his duties, although
he remains nominal prime minister.

1970
Salazar dies and is replaced as head of gov-
ernment by his associate Marcelo
Caetano.

1940
In the aftermath of the civil war Franco con-
solidates his power by creating a one-
party system in which the “National
Movement” (built around the fascist-like
Falange) holds all government offices.

1971-74
A slowdown in the Spanish economic “boom”
provokes disputes among hard-line and
moderate cliques within the Franco gov-
ernment as the leader's declining health
raises questions about the future.

1945-55
The Franco regime is ostracized for its pro-
Axis sympathies but gradually brought
back into the international system by
U.S. cold war policy needs. Portugal,
never as resented as Spain, soon becomes
a regular participant in Western affairs.

1974
Carnation Revolution in Portugal is a blood-
less military coup, symbolized by the red
flowers inserted in the soldiers' gun bar-
rels. The Caetano government is over-
thrown, and within a year a provisional
administration has opened negotiations
for ending the war in Africa (a major
cause of the army's revolt) and granting
independence to the colonies.

1955
Spain and Portugal become active members
of the United Nations.

1960-68
Salazar seeks to develop Portugal's national
wealth by intensified exploitation of nat-
ural resources in the African colonies.
Resistance movements in these territories
are met with military force, and Portugal
embarks upon a series of African cam-
paigns that create growing bitterness and
financial strain at home.

1975
Death of Franco. He is succeeded by the
Bourbon prince (a grandson of Alfonso
XIII) he groomed to restore the monar-
chy. King Juan Carlos I soon makes clear
his commitment to democracy rather
than Francoism.

1976
Portugal emerges from a period of political
instability, establishing a democratic
constitution.

1965-70
Franco begins a process of political and eco-
nomic “liberalization” that produces