Long-term causes of Spanish Civil War Flashcards
There were deep-seated ___ divisions in both rural and urban Spain.
Socioeconomic
Long-term causes of the Spanish civil war
- Economic and social problems (rural and urban poverty)
- Political instability
Give an overview of rural poverty in Spain
Profound socioeconomic divisions between the small, wealthy landowning elite and vast masses of poor, landless labourers created great tensions in rural Spain.
In what areas of Spain were the problems associated with rural poverty especially acute?
- In the south of Spain where huge estates, called latifundia, dominated rural life.
- Labourers suffered from low pay, underemployment due to seasonal work and little financial security, as they were hired by the day.
Explain how dissatisfaction with rural poverty in Spain became political
- Unions organized strikes and demonstrations against landlords, and, by 1918, 700,000 people had joined the union Confederación Nacional del Trabajo.
- By 1930, 45.5 per cent of all workers were rural labourers, making rural issues very important politically.
- A deeply divided central government was unable to solve rural problems.
Give an overview of urban poverty in Spain
Wealthy factory owners exploited poor industrial workers.
Describe the overcrowding and poor conditions in Spain’s cities
- By 1930, 42 per cent of Spain’s population lived in towns of at least 10,000 people.
- These industrial workers faced terrible living and working conditions.
- They resided in overcrowded, insanitary slums and enjoyed few rights at work, with no minimum wage, no limits to working hours and no protection from hazardous working conditions.
How did people fight back against urban poverty?
- Trade unions increased in popularity, as did the idea of a social revolution similar to the October 1917 Bolshevik Revolution in Russia.
- The Catholic Church, factory owners and landlords grew fearful of workers and farm labourers.
Give an overview of political instability in Spain as a long-term cause
The Spanish political scene was highly unstable, with divisions existing between the left-wing and right-wing.
Members of left vs. right wing in Spain
- Reformist vs. conservative
- Republican vs. monarchist
- Poorer farmers and urban working class vs. wealthy landowners and industrialists
- Anti-Catholic, separation of Church and State vs. Catholic
In which regions of Spain were there separatist movements?
Even though Spain was politically unified, strong separatist movements existed in Catalonia and the Basque country, both of which have their own distinctive culture, language and history.
Describe the strong separatists movements in Catalonia and the Basque country
- Both regions grew economically, leading to more demands for independence.
- Catalan separatists argued that only five per cent of taxes paid to the central government were returned to Catalonia.
- Left-wing groups indicated that they were willing to reduce the central government’s control over these regions and grant more autonomy. This was opposed by right-wing groups.
When was Primo de Rivera dictator of Spain?
1923–30
When was the collapse of the monarchy in Spain?
1931
Give an overview of what ended Primo de Rivera’s dictatorship and the monarchy
- During the rule of Prime Minister Primo de Rivera, the deep divisions in Spanish society and politics developed into crisis, leading to his resignation in 1930.
- The monarchy ended in 1931, leaving an unstable democratic republic as the political system as Spain entered the Second Republic.
