The Franco Regime refers to the authoritarian government led by General Francisco Franco in Spain from 1939 to 1975. It emerged after the Spanish Civil War, where Franco's Nationalist forces defeated the Republican side. The regime was characterized by political repression, censorship, and the suppression of regional identities, particularly in Catalonia and Basque Country. During Franco's rule, Spain experienced significant economic changes, including the implementation of autarky policies followed by a shift towards economic liberalization in the 1950s. The regime maintained a strong alliance with the Catholic Church and received support from the United States during the Cold War, which helped stabilize its rule until Franco's death in 1975.