1. Spanish Civil War
Causes and a Cause

2. Introduction Spanish Civil War Broke out in 1936
More than a century of social, economic and political
Half a million died

3. Long-Term Causes

4. 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

5. 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
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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. Short-Term Causes

15. Political Polarization
Between 1931 and 1936, major gap in ideology
Did not anticipate war in 1931
By 1936, it will be desireable

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. Immediate Causes

23. 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