Federica Montseny (February 12, 1905-January 14, 1994) was a Spanish anarchist intellectual and Minister of Health during the social revolution that occurred in Spain parallel to the Civil War. As well as being the first ever female minister in the Spanish government, Montseny issued a decree legalising abortion. February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1905 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... January 14 is the 14th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... Anarchism, the political philosophy advocating a libertarian society without hierarchy, based on mutual aid and voluntary cooperation, historically gained the most support and influence in Spain, especially in the seventy or so years before Francisco Francos victory in the Spanish Civil War of 1936-1939. ... In the Trotskyist movement, the term social revolution refers to an unpheaval in which existing property relations are smashed. ... History of Spain series Prehistoric Spain Roman Spain Muslim Conquest of Iberia Timeline of Muslim Occupation Medieval Spain Age of Reconquest Age of Expansion Age of Enlightenment Reaction and Revolution First Spanish Republic The Restoration Second Spanish Republic Spanish Civil War The Dictatorship Modern Spain Topics Economic History Military History... Decree is an order that has the force of law. ...

She was, in her own words, the "[d]aughter of a family of old anarchists"; her father had been an anti-authoritarian writer and propagandist who wrote under the name Federico Urales, so her decision to enter the government was a difficult one to make. Although entering the government was a move encouraged by the anarcho-syndicalist CNT, this collaboration with the government, in order to present a united front to the fascist rebels, was widely questioned during and long after the war was over. For many anarchists, the topic of collaboration -- with Marxists and governments -- is still a contentious one. North Korean propaganda showing a soldier destroying the United States Capitol building. ... Anarcho-syndicalism is a branch of anarchism which focuses on the labor movement. ... The Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (National Confederation of Labour or CNT), founded in Barcelona, Spain, in 1910, was at one time that countrys largest labor union. ... Fascism (in Italian, fascismo), capitalized, was the authoritarian political movement which ruled Italy from 1922 to 1943 under the leadership of Benito Mussolini. ... Marxism is the political practice and social theory based on the works of Karl Marx, a 19th century German philosopher, economist, journalist, and revolutionary, along with Friedrich Engels. ...

She moved to France in 1939 where she wrote many books, only a fraction of which were political. 1939 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ...

External link

• Federica Montseny's works and biography