Paper 3 - Spanish Civil War

Political Causes: Weakness of Liberal Democracy

After the 1874 Bourbon Restoration, Spain's "turnismo" system relied on electoral fraud and local boss control (caciquismo), excluding workers and peasants → widespread cynicism and attraction to socialism/anarchism.

Evidence of pseudo-democracy

Elections were rigged; only elites participated → democracy in form but authoritarian in substance.

Impact of weak liberal democracy

Disillusionment with parliament → rise of anti-system ideologies (socialism, anarchism).

The Monarchy's role (Alfonso XIII)

Supported conservative elites, backed Primo de Rivera's coup (1923) → linked monarchy with dictatorship → fall in 1931 left conservatives leaderless but strong.

The Army's political role

Overstaffed, conservative, and interventionist ("pronunciamientos") → viewed itself as guardian of religion/nation → resented civilian control → tradition of coups culminating in 1936.

Long-term effect of Army conservatism

Created culture of military interference and anti-democratic attitudes → direct cause of 1936 coup.

The Catholic Church's influence

Controlled education/welfare, allied with elites, opposed liberalism and socialism → resisted modern reforms → alienated working class → rise of anti-clericalism.

Impact of Church conservatism

Deepened ideological divide between reformists and traditionalists → religion became political.

Regional Nationalism (Catalonia & Basque Country)

Diverse regional identities suppressed by Madrid's centralism → Catalan/Basque autonomy vs. Spanish nationalism → constant tension between left (autonomy) and right (unity).

Social Causes: Extreme Class Division

Upper class dominated wealth/politics; weak middle class; exploited peasants/workers → no moderating centre → instability between revolution and reaction.

Rural Discontent

Southern estates (latifundia) exploited landless peasants; northern farmers faced debt → failed reforms → radicalization (CNT, PSOE-UGT).

Urban Working-Class Radicalization

Harsh factory conditions, frequent strikes, and repression → rise of trade unions (UGT - socialist, CNT - anarcho-syndicalist) → by 1930s, workers saw capitalism as oppressive.

Anti-Clericalism and Cultural Division

Church wealth vs. popular poverty → Church-controlled education → resentment → 1930s revolts targeted clergy/property as symbols of oppression.

Economic Causes: Backward Economy

Uneven industrialization: Catalonia/Basque modernized; rest agrarian and inefficient → regional inequality and frustration.

Agrarian Crisis

Low productivity, unemployment, and recurrent famines → land reforms failed → peasants radicalized.

WWI Economic Effects

Neutrality brought short-term boom, then postwar crash → unemployment/inflation.

Great Depression (1929)

Collapse of exports and jobs (600,000 unemployed by 1933) → weakened middle class, discredited monarchy and dictatorship → rise of extremism left and right.

Background: Political Context

By 1923, Spain's monarchy under Alfonso XIII was collapsing due to corruption, economic crisis, labor unrest, and defeat in Morocco (Annual Disaster, 1921).

The Coup of 1923

General Miguel Primo de Rivera launched a coup with army support and the king's approval, promising "less politics, more administration." Ended parliamentary democracy and began Spain's first modern dictatorship.

Significance of the Coup

Marked the end of constitutional government and created a model for later authoritarian regimes like Franco's.

Military Directorate (1923-1925)

Rivera ruled through a council of generals; suspended constitution, dissolved Cortes, censored press, and governed by decree under a state of emergency.

Aims of the Military Directorate

Eliminate corruption, suppress anarchism and strikes, defend religion and monarchy, and restore Spain's prestige, especially in Morocco.

Civilian Directorate (1925-1930)

Shifted toward corporatist rule with limited civilian involvement; founded the Unión Patriótica as a single official party claiming to represent all Spaniards.

Ideology of the Regime

Combined Spanish traditionalism, Catholic conservatism, and Mussolini-style corporatism; anti-parliamentary, anti-socialist, and nationalist but less radical than Italian fascism.

Economic Policies: Modernization

Rivera aimed for self-sufficiency through public works, state monopolies, and protectionism, creating CAMPSA, Iberia, Telefonica, and major infrastructure projects.

Economic Corporatism

Created the National Corporations Organization (ONC) to mediate between employers and workers, temporarily reducing strikes.

Morocco Campaign

Joint operation with France in 1925 defeated Abd-el-Krim and restored national pride after earlier humiliation.

Economic Outcomes

5% growth in mid-1920s "Golden Twenties," but financed by debt; unsustainable and collapsed during Great Depression (1929).

Social Policies

Limited welfare and labor arbitration under state control; expanded education and literacy but reinforced traditional gender roles and Catholic values.

Impact of Social Policies

Achieved short-term labor peace but failed to address poverty or land inequality; CNT anarchists remained repressed.

Relations with King Alfonso XIII

Initially close alliance, but the king became discredited by association with the dictatorship's failures.

Relations with the Army

Support declined due to internal divisions (Africanistas vs. Junteros) and discontent over promotions.

Relations with the Church

Remained strong; the Church supported corporatism and retained power in education and social affairs.

Relations with Industrialists and Landowners

Initially supportive of repression of unions, but later opposed state interference and new taxes.

Relations with the Working Class

Some benefits through arbitration, but resentment grew over censorship and lack of reform; CNT banned.

Relations with Regional Nationalists

Repressed Catalan and Basque autonomy, banned local languages, and intensified nationalist resentment.

Relations with Liberals and Republicans

Suppressed and censored; became the foundation of opposition leading to the 1931 Republic.

Success: Restored Order

Reduced strikes, curbed terrorism, and stabilized Spain temporarily after years of unrest.

Success: Economic Modernization

Expanded transport, hydroelectric, and communication infrastructure; ended the Moroccan War in 1926.

Success: Labor Peace

Corporatist policies reduced strikes between 1925-1928; UGT cooperated with regime and expanded membership.

Success: National Pride

Victory in Morocco and modernization revived Spain's international confidence and self-image.

Failure: Authoritarianism

Suppressed democracy, banned parties, censored press, and replaced corruption with a new loyalist elite.

Failure: Economic Fragility

Growth depended on debt-financed spending; deficit ballooned by 1929; Depression ended prosperity.

Failure: Loss of Allies

Alienated army, industrialists, Church, and workers; nationalist repression radicalized opposition.

Failure: Corporatism

National Assembly lacked legitimacy; proposed 1929 constitution never enacted; UP lacked real public support.

Failure: Loss of Legitimacy

By 1929, all major sectors opposed Rivera; the king withdrew support; Rivera resigned in January 1930 and died in exile.

Background: Founding of the Second Republic

King Alfonso XIII went into exile in 1931 after municipal elections favored Republicans; a provisional government of liberals, socialists, and moderates declared the Second Republic.

Goal of the Republic

To modernize Spain through democracy, secularism, and reform — immediately clashing with conservative forces (Church, army, landowners).

Political Polarization Overview

The Second Republic became defined by deep polarization between left and right, with the collapse of the moderate center.

Left Ideology

Revolution, secularism, socialism, anti-Church; included anarchists, socialists, communists, and left republicans.

Centre Ideology

Moderate liberal reform; mainly Radical Republicans under Azaña or Lerroux.

Right Ideology

Defense of Church, property, monarchy, and unity; included CEDA, Monarchists, Carlists, and Falange.

Effect of Polarization

Reformist phase (1931-33) alienated conservatives; conservative phase (1933-36) radicalized the left → both sides saw each other as existential enemies.

The Left: Socialist Movement (PSOE and UGT)

Initially worked with Azaña to reform Spain; aimed at land redistribution, labor rights, and limiting Church and army power.

Socialist Division

Prieto favored gradual reform; Largo Caballero became radical Marxist after 1933, calling for revolution.

Impact of Socialist Division

Disunity weakened the left and frustrated workers, pushing them toward anarchism and extremism.

Anarchists (CNT-FAI)

Rejected the Republic entirely; promoted anarcho-syndicalism — abolition of state, capitalism, and Church through direct action.

Anarchist Actions

Led strikes and rural uprisings (e.g., Casas Viejas 1933); rebellions brutally suppressed by government.

Impact of Anarchism

Weakened left-wing unity and provided propaganda for the right to brand the Republic as chaotic.

Republican Left (Azaña and Izquierda Republicana)

Sought a secular, modern Spain; introduced Church and army reforms, land redistribution, and Catalan autonomy (1932).

Azaña's Successes

Expanded education and literacy; inspired democratic ideals.

Azaña's Failures

Reforms too slow for workers, too radical for conservatives; repression of anarchist revolts damaged his credibility.

Communists (PCE)

Small at first but grew to 30,000 members by 1936; supported gradual revolution and Popular Front unity.

Impact of Communists

Helped unite the left under anti-fascist front but also deepened ideological divisions within it.

The Centre: Radical Republicans under Alejandro Lerroux

Controlled government from 1933-35 with CEDA's support; began as reformist but shifted right.

Achievements of Lerroux

Provided short-term stability between extremes.

Failures of Lerroux

Corruption scandals (Straperlo 1935) destroyed credibility; collapse of centrism left Spain polarized.

The Right: CEDA (Confederación Española de Derechas Autónomas)

Founded 1933 by José María Gil Robles; defended "Religion, Family, and Property."

CEDA Policies

Reversed earlier reforms, restored Church privileges, reduced labor rights, and supported the army.

Impact of CEDA

Largest party in 1933 elections but denied power; drifted toward authoritarianism and fascist sympathies, frightening the left.

Monarchists and Carlists

Sought restoration of the monarchy or a Carlist branch; deeply Catholic and anti-liberal, maintaining armed militias (Requetés).

Impact of Monarchists and Carlists

Provided ideological and paramilitary foundation for the 1936 Nationalist uprising.

Falange Española

Founded 1933 by José Antonio Primo de Rivera; inspired by Mussolini; advocated nationalism, corporatism, and anti-communism.

Impact of Falange

Minor before 1936 but became central to Franco's Nationalist ideology during the Civil War.

Phases of Polarization 1931-1933 (Bienio Reformista)

Left-led Azaña government introduced reforms that alienated conservatives and caused anarchist revolts.

Phases of Polarization 1933-1935 (Bienio Negro)

Lerroux and CEDA reversed reforms; Asturias uprising (1934) crushed; left became more radical.

Phases of Polarization 1936 (Popular Front)

Left coalition reinstated reforms; widespread unrest and assassinations led to military coup in July 1936.

Impact: Collapse of the Political Centre

Moderates like Lerroux and Zamora lost influence; politics became dominated by extremes.

Impact: Breakdown of Law and Order

Violence escalated with Falange attacks, leftist reprisals, and political assassinations (e.g., José Sotelo).

Impact: Radicalization of Society

Left sought revolution; right sought restoration; each side denied the other's legitimacy → "two Spains."

Impact: Foreign Influence

Rise of fascism in Europe emboldened Spanish right; left aligned with Soviet-backed Popular Front movements.

Successes of the Second Republic

Expanded education, secularized state, legalized divorce and women's suffrage, granted Catalonia autonomy, and modernized institutions.

Failures of the Second Republic

Alienated Church, army, and conservatives; unstable politics, slow reforms, rising violence; collapsed into civil war by 1936.

Overview of Azaña

Manuel Azaña Díaz (1880-1940), a centre-left intellectual and republican reformer; leader of Acción Republicana and Izquierda Republicana; served as Prime Minister (1931-33) and later President (1936-39).

Overview of Gil Robles

José María Gil Robles y Quiñones (1898-1980), right-wing Catholic conservative; leader of CEDA, Minister of War (1935); sought to defend Church and property and restore authoritarian order.

Azaña's Political Symbolism

Represented reform, secularism, and democracy; viewed the Republic as a vehicle for peaceful modernization.

Gil Robles's Political Symbolism

Represented Catholic reaction and authoritarianism; viewed the Republic as a threat to religion and unity.

Manuel Azaña: Background

A liberal intellectual influenced by French republicanism; believed in rational governance, education, and secular modernization.

Azaña's Vision

To build a democratic, secular, and socially just Spain by dismantling Church, army, and landowner dominance.

Azaña's Key Reforms

Secularization of education, army reform, agrarian reform, Catalan autonomy, and expansion of public schooling.

Azaña's Major Achievements (1931-1933)

Constitution of 1931 legalized divorce and women's suffrage; closed conservative military academy; ended Church control of education; established Catalan autonomy (1932).

Azaña's Challenges and Failures

Resistance from conservatives and Church; 1933 Casas Viejas revolt discredited him; Depression limited funds; divisions among socialists and anarchists weakened his base.

Fall of Azaña's Government

By 1933, conservatives accused him of destroying Spain, and radicals accused him of betrayal; he lost broad support.

Azaña's Later Role (1936-1939)

Returned as leader of the Popular Front, elected President; attempted to contain extremism but failed as polarization deepened.

Azaña's Exile and Death

Fled Spain after Franco's victory and died in exile in France in 1940.

Azaña's Legacy

Architect of democratic reform and education; symbol of liberalism; ultimately unable to balance between radical left and reactionary right.

Historian Paul Preston on Azaña

"Azaña was the tragic liberal in an illiberal country — too democratic for the right, too restrained for the left."

José María Gil Robles: Background

Lawyer and devout Catholic; active in Catholic Action before founding CEDA in 1933; embraced Catholic corporatism and anti-Marxism.

Gil Robles's Vision

Defend religion, property, and unity; replace secular republicanism with Catholic order and strong authority.

Gil Robles's Core Beliefs

Supported Catholic morality, hierarchy, anti-socialism, and strong executive rule; distrusted parliamentary democracy.