Causes of Spanish Civil War Long-Term & Short-Term

What were the long-term causes of Spain's fragmentation?

Divisions, regionalism, localism, and differences in culture, linguistics, history, and economy that prevented national cooperation.

What were the economic causes of Spain's fragmentation?

Disparities between regions with some being economically strong and dynamic, while others lagged in industrial and agricultural production

What were the territorial causes of Spain's fragmentation?

Regionalism and localism that fostered divisions and prevented national cooperation.

What were the political causes of Spain's fragmentation?

Different political ideologies and organizations including traditional conservatives on the right and anarchists, Marxists, and socialists on the left.

Who made up the political right in Spain?

Traditional conservatives including landowners, the church, and the army.

How much land was concentrated in a few hands in Spain?

Half of Spain was owned by only 50,000 individuals.

How did the church influence Spanish society?

The church influenced education in Spain.

What was the political left associated with in Spain?

Regionalism and the rise of new political and ideological movements such as anarcho-syndicalism, traditional anarchism, Marxism, and socialism.

What is anarcho-syndicalism?

A political doctrine of anarchism loosely based on trade union principles, popular in industrial areas like Barcelona and parts of Catalonia.

What did anarcho-syndicalism advocate for?

Decentralized worker control of factories, stock, and trade unions, along with shorter work weeks, higher wages, and better working conditions.

Where was traditional anarchism popular in Spain?

In rural and poorer areas.

What did traditional anarchists in Spain seek?

Land redistribution, decentralized authority, and freedom from taxes.

What ideological divisions existed within Marxism and socialism in Spain?

There were fractured supports including Stalinists vs. Trotskyites and arguments with trade unionists.

What were the short-term causes of the Spanish Civil War?

Failure of the Second Republic and the Popular Front.

What was the Second Republic?

Spain’s government from the abdication of Alfonso XIII in 1931 until the end of the Spanish Civil War.

What was the Popular Front?

A political strategy of electoral cooperation between left-wing parties to prevent vote splitting and defeat right-wing parties, popular in France and Spain during the 1930s.

What happened in April 1931?

The monarchy lost popular support, the army withdrew support of Alfonso XIII, Alfonso went into exile, and general elections brought center-left parties to power led by Manuel Azaña.

What reforms did Azaña’s government introduce?

Agricultural, labor, and anticlerical legislation protecting tenants, encouraging collectives and cooperatives, separating church and state, recognizing civil marriages and divorces, and forcibly retiring army officers with pensions.

What were the effects of Azaña's reforms?

Alienated the political right, left many ordinary people dissatisfied, and did not significantly reduce rural poverty.

What was the Civil Guard rebellion of August 1932?

A revolt led by General Sanjurjo against Azaña’s government, easily put down with CNT cooperation.

What did the 1932 Civil Guard rebellion reveal?

It showed the degree of opposition to the Republic and the limits of the Republic's monopoly on force and legitimacy.

Who supported Azaña’s government?

Middle-class liberals.

Who opposed Azaña’s government?

The radical left, conservative left, and elements of the right.

What happened in the 1933 elections?

A right-wing coalition came to power, reflecting instability in Spanish politics.

How did the new right-wing government respond to Azaña’s reforms?

They reversed or ignored many of Azaña’s reforms.

What uprisings occurred in response to the right-wing government?

A short declaration of autonomy by Catalonia and a revolt in Asturias, which was crushed by Spanish troops from Morocco.

How did the Spanish left view the Asturias revolt?

As an attempt to avoid the fate of the German left against the Nazis or as confirmation that the radical left abandoned the constitution.

What did the Asturias revolt reveal about Spanish politics?

That people lacked faith in the democratic system and that there were irreconcilable political differences.