Spanish Civil WarCauses and a Cause

Introduction

Spanish Civil War

Broke out in 1936

More than a century of social, economic and political

Half a million died

Long-Term Causes

Weakness of Government

Political instability

19th century, Spain struggled between periods of conservatism and liberalism

Several factors that caused tension and division

Weakness of government

1871, Spain became a constitutional monarchy

King Amadeo became head of state and he appointed a Prime Minister who should have commanded the majority of parliament (Cortes)

Real power held by wealthy oligarchs, control shifted between cliques

Two main parties, Conservatives and Liberals, no real difference

Elections rigged

Role of Spanish Army Army had a powerful position in Spain due to its

imperial past

Believed that was the protector of the nation

Right and duty to intervene, did so in 1829, 1871, 1923

Did not act to save King Alfonso in 1931, led to his exile

Did intervene during Second Republic and in 1936

Unpopular with the people

Reputation for brutality, expensive

Had lost Empire in 19th century, to American in 1898, struggled to keep Morocco 1906-26

In need of reform

Too big, too many officers

Upper and middle classes make up the officer corps

Generally conservative

‘Africanistas’ had experienced war in Morocco, the hard-liners

Role of Church

Catholic Church rich and powerful in Spain

Disputes between them and state in 1800s

State guaranteed role in education and economy, church used its wealth for influence

Supported conservative policies

Aristocracy tied closely to the church

Defended rights of upper classes, led to resentment

Economic Causes

Plight of agricultural workers was a key factor, focus of the economy, source of employment

Did not provide sufficient food and work was seasonal

Need for workers to migrate

Most in poverty, wide gap Central and South, land

owned in huge estates, by ‘Grandees’ who dominated the political system

North, peasants owned small plots of land, too poor

Economic Causes

Rioting in the countryside

Civil Guard deployed to repress

No support from the church, some looked to anarchists who sought redistribution of land

Catholics resistant to socialist ideas

Catholic Agrarian Federation formed to support farmers and reject socialism

Would later support Franco

Economic Causes Industrially a need for reform

Had been little growth in the 19th century

Expansion limited by poverty

Workers poor conditions

Growth of trade unionism

Competed with one another though, failed to achieve anything substantial

Employers could always find alternative labor

Workers’ parties had no power, no legal means

Spain’s neutrality in WWI had caused a boom

Increase in exports meant inflation and shortages

Militancy increased

Early 1920s major economic problems, led to violent conflict in industrial cities in Catalonia

Role of Regions

Catalonia and Basque provinces seeking independence

Had own cultures and economies

Primo de Rivera, Prime Minister in 1923, ruled Spain as a dictator until 1930

Took back Catalonia’s self-governing rights

Separatists supported Republican movement that overthrew Alfonso in 1931

Political Opposition Number of groups opposed to status

quo

Liberal groups achieved nothing, remained a political force

Spanish Socialist Party had grown, UGT more visible

Small Communist Party after Russian Revolution

All divided over which reforms should take place

Moderate Socialists Indalecio Prieto

Radicals Largo Caballero

Anarchists also a major force

Popular with the peasants

Boycotted democracy, active with CNT

Responsible for some bombings

Fall of the Monarchy and Establishment of the Second

Republic King Alfonso was not a modernizer

Pressure on him after defeats and ineffective government

Did not resist coup of General Primo de Rivera in 1923

Primo de Rivera

Tried to establish right-wing regime similar to Italy

Infrastructure and Industry advances

Ran up massive debts, worse when Depression hit

Alienated landowners and army

Resigned in 1930, did not bring about stability

Elections in 1930 then showed support for republicans, liberals, socialists and Catholics

King went into voluntary exile

Neither Church or army stepped in

Second Republic established 1931

Short-Term Causes

Political Polarization

Between 1931 and 1936, major gap in ideology

Did not anticipate war in 1931

By 1936, it will be desireable

The Left Republic Following departure, center-left

wanted to modernize

Government declared a new constitution, stating Spain was a democratic republic of workers

Manuel Azana became President

Key issues continued

Addressed church’s power

Anticlerical, tried to separate church and state

No longer in control of education, state payment of clergy stopped, power of the army attacked

Made it only more nationalist really

The Left Republic Desperate economic problems existed

in Spain exacerbated by the Depression

Agricultural prices tumbling, exports fell, unemployment rising

Industrial output fell

Largo Caballero, Minister of Labour intiated an extensive land redistribution program with compensation

1932, land law, right saw as a major threat

Civil unrest and violence continued

Dealt with brutally, introduced Assault Guard

Risings by both sides

General Jose Sanjurjo from right

Casas Viejos anarchist uprising from left

Army remained mostly loyal

The Left Republic Catalonia given its own

parliament, some powers over law and education

Right-wing groups angered by this move towards independence and break-up of Spain

New right-wing party, Confederacion Espanola de Derechas Autonamas, formed to defend the church and landlords

CEDA led by Jose Maria Gil-Robles modelled on German Nazi Party

Political divisions definitely increased

Azana also attacked anarchists, lost him some working class support, resigned in 1933

The Right Republic Elections of 1933, Republic

swung right

Disunity on the left

CEDA largest party, Gil-Robles made War Minister

New government ruled for two years

Known as black years, systematically reversed Left Republic’s reforms

Church and land restored

Catalonia suppressed by troops

Threat of general strike

The right lost support of the Basques

The Right Republic

Political response to Right Republic divided

CEDA labeled Spanish Nazi party, some thought they should seek Soviet-style solution

Right demanded a shift to more authoritarian approach

Led to more cooperation on the Left

The Popular Front Right wing disintegrated as economic and

political situation deteriorated

Election of 1936, Popular Front, anti-fascist pact of left-wing groups including socialists and communists, victorious

Some associated it with democracy, some with Stalin

Manifesto promoted by Azana who now returned, liberal, not radical

Wanted to restore reforms of 31-33

Still no political census

Anarchists encouraged peasants to seize land, recruited militias

Conflict with fascists, government faced increasing disorder

General strike in May

Right wing thought they were in left revolution

Immediate Causes

1936 Victory of the left in 1936 elections threw CEDA

into turmoil

Used funds to support military plans for a coup

Began planning immediately

Nationalist junior officers joined with senior Africanista officers, including Franco

Coup began after murder of popular CEDA leader on July 13

Azana attempted to prevent coup by moving key military figures to remote posts

Conspirators made contact with two groups, Falange (authoritarian radicals) and Carlists (monarchists)

Fascists versus communists

Coup began on July 17 from Morocco, took northern Spain

Half of the army remained Republican, coup actually unsuccessful without foreign intervention