Section 1: The creation of the Republic 1930-31

Question 1

What mainly led to the fall of the Monarchy and the creation of a democratic republic (hint: very early in 1930)

Answer 1

It was the popular hatred of the dictatorship and the king who backed it.

Question 2

How was Spain ruled at the beginning of 1930?

Answer 2

At the beginning of 1930, Spain was ruled by a military dictatorship, backed by the king Alfonso

Question 3

Who was Spain’s military ruler at the beginning of 1930?

Answer 3

It was general Miguel Primo de Rivera

Question 4

Was Miguel Primo de Rivera popular? and why?

Answer 4

He was not popular at all. Even after 7 years of power, his economic policies had caused growing hardship.

Question 5

When did the king dismiss Primo de Rivera?

Answer 5

The kind dismissed him in January 1930

Question 6

Did Spain continue to be a military-led government even after the dismissal of Primo de Rivera?

Answer 6

Yes. Even after dismissing Primo de Rivera, the King still backed a military-led government

Question 7

Who was Spain’s new dictator after the dismissal of Primo de Rivera?

Answer 7

Damaso Berenguer

Question 8

What changes did Berenguer make?

Answer 8

He ended some of Primo de Rivera’s most repressive policies, hoping to defuse opposition to the regime.

Question 9

Was Berenguer popular?

Answer 9

Berenguer too was unpopular, and his moderate policies earned him the nickname ‘the toothless dictatorship’

Question 10

Who met in the Basque town of San Sebastian in August 1930? and why?

Answer 10

Leading opponents of the military dictatorship. They met in order to co-ordinate opposition to the military regime. The meeting led to a planned military coup against the gov

Question 11

So what was the Pact of San Sebastian?

Answer 11

A pact uniting Spain’s leading socialists, liberals, and even some conservatives and republicans in the army. The pact also included advocates of greater autonomy for Spain’s regions, such as Catalonia

Question 12

Essentially what did the pact of San Sebastian create?

Answer 12

A united revolutionary committee that planned to overthrow the government.

Question 13

Did the planned coup succeed?

Answer 13

No the coup failed, partly due to the fact that it was initiated much earlier than planned.

Question 14

Did the revolutionary committee created in the San Sebastian pact fall after the fail coup?

Answer 14

No, Spain’s socialist and liberal leaders continued to work together to end military rule

Question 15

Why was the pact of San Sebastian so significant?

Answer 15

It led to opponents of the regime uniting together, thus making them stronger. Also, the fact that the different groups were willing to put their differences aside and stop fighting each other just showed how strong their opposition towards the government was, and their determination to overthrow it.

Question 16

What did the municipal election of April 1931 show?

Answer 16

It showed the strength of the Republican movement. The results of the elections were never published, but the King acknowledged that the republicans had majorities in Spain’s major urban areas

Question 17

How did the king react to the 1931 municipal elections?

Answer 17

At first he refused to recognise the elections results

Question 18

What did the Kings reaction to the results lead to?

Answer 18

It led to widespread violence

Question 19

What did the king’s advisers advise him to do?

Answer 19

They advised him to use the army to stop the violence as without the support of the Spanish people he could not rule

Question 20

What did the king do on April 14th after being advised to use the army to stop the violence?

Answer 20

On April 14 1931, two days after the elections, the king still refused to use the army, but instead showed his weakness and fled Spain, which opened the way for the foundation of a republic

Question 21

What replaced the king after he fled?

Answer 21

The king was replaced by a coalition provisional government

Question 22

What was the new governments role?

Answer 22

To supervise the creation of a republic and organise nationwide elections which would, in turn, lead to the creation of a new democratic government

Question 23

What was the provisional government largely made up of?

Answer 23

Largely made up of the socialists and liberals who had been part of the revolutionary committee, which had been established in the pact of San Sebastian.

Question 24

Who were the groups referred to as the conservative elites?

Answer 24

The Catholic Church, the army, and the landowners

Question 25

Who were the three groups the new gov faced hostility from?

Answer 25

the Catholic Church, the army and the landowners

Question 26

What did Pope Pius XI claim?

Answer 26

Claimed that Alfonso was Spains first genuinely Catholic ruler in centuries, due to the kings personal faith and his apparent willingness to use the power of the government to defend the interests of the church.

Question 27

What were Pope Pius XI’s political views?

Answer 27

He was extremely conservative and argued that democracy would lead to the rise of socialism, atheism, and communism. Consequently, in the late 1920’s and early 1930s Pope Pius XI backed extreme right-wing dictatorships. E.g he supported Mussolini’s Fascist dictatorship in Italy and Hitler’s Nazi dictatorship in Germnay

Question 28

Why did Pope Pius XI back so many extreme dictatorships?

Answer 28

He believed that right-wing dictatorships would protect traditional morality and the rights of the Church against democracy, socialism, and communism

Question 29

What position did the Catholic Church hold in Spain during the time of the provisional gov?

Answer 29

It was in a relatively weak position with much of the population losing faith in the church

Question 30

Give examples showing that support/faith in the church was declining?

Answer 30

It had limited support among the industrial working class, in rural areas church attendance was declining, and furthermore, a tradition of anti-clericalism was emerging, which often resulted in attacks on church property

Question 31

What affect did the Second republic have on the church? What in particular did it affect?

Answer 31

The establishment of the second republic in 1931 resulted in numerous laws that attempted to reduce the influence of the church within Spanish society, particularly in education. Traditionally, primary education had been dominated by the church, which meant there was lots of indoctrination.

Question 32

What led to many Catholic Spanish bishops opposing the new government?

Answer 32

The anti-clerical politicians campaigns to end the Church’s influence on education led to many Catholic Spanish Bishops opposing the new gov

Question 33

What did attacks on the church lead to?

Answer 33

Attacks on the church led to the revival of monarchism

Question 34

What were the two monarchist traditions in Spain?

Answer 34

The Alfonsists and the Carlists. While there was disagreement between the Alfonsists and the Carlists on the identity of the rightful king, both groups were united in their belief that the Church should be defended from the ‘ungodly’ republic

Question 35

What was the leadership of the Spanish army dominated by?

Answer 35

It was dominated by conservatives, supporters of the monarchy and officers who had supported Primo de Rivera

Question 36

Why did majority of the Spanish people not have faith in their military leaders?

Answer 36

-leading army members had little understanding of the lives, concerns or needs of the Spanish poor. The views of the military elite did not reflect the views of the poor
-Military governments from 1923 to 1931 had failed to improve the lives of the poor
-Many Spaniards blamed the collapse of the Spanish empire on the failings of the Spanish military
-The military was considered to a be a drain to Spains economic resources and the reason for the poverty of so many Spanish citizens

Question 37

Why did the army oppose the Republic?

Answer 37

-Many senior officers saw themselves as the defenders of traditional Spanish culture and Catholic values, which they feared would be lost in the Republic.
-the republic had policies that limited career opportunities in the army
-They feared that there would be less funding to the army in the republic

Question 38

What were the large estates that most farming took place in called?

Answer 38

Latifundia’s

Question 39

What were the owners of Latifundia’s intent on?

Answer 39

They were intent on maximising profits, often at the expense of local workers

Question 40

Did workers of these estates have protection from their employers?

Answer 40

workers had little protection from their employers and could be hired and dismissed at will, leaving many workers with unstable incomes.

Question 41

Why did the landowners oppose the republic?

Answer 41

-they feared the growth of left-wing support as they realized it threatened their positions. Workers would gain more rights and landowners would no longer be able to maximise profits like before.
-landowners were also suspicious of democracy, as they believed the poor would use political power to enhance their rights at the expense of the political elites.

Question 42

What was the Spanish middle class’s views on democracy?

Answer 42

the Spanish middle class did not wholly embrace democracy, rather, they tended to side with the old elites. The middle class too feared that democracy might lead to an increase in the influence of the working class and the peasantry.
-They also feared that a democratic republic would not be strong enough to defend Spain against radical groups such as the anarchists who wanted to abolish capitalism

Question 43

What did anarchists argue?

Answer 43

they argued that the only way of liberating working people was through the abolition of capitalism and the state.

Question 44

What regularly happened to anarchist groups?

Answer 44

They were regularly banned by right-wing governments up until 1930

Question 45

What was the name of Spains main anarchist group?

Answer 45

it was called the National Confederation of Workers (CNT) - it was a significant force in Spanish politics

Question 46

How was the growth of CNT during the 1930s?

Answer 46

The CNT grew quickly, from around 1 million in 1933 to 1.44 million a year later

Question 47

What was the name of another anarchist group that was also gaining popularity?

Answer 47

Federacion Anarquista Iberica (FAI)

Question 48

What did the rising popularity of CNT and FAI convince the conservative elites of?

Answer 48

convinced the conservative elites and leading members of the armed forces that Spains future, culture and key institutions such as the Catholic church were under direct threat

Question 49

What was the main Spanish socialist party?

Answer 49

it was the Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE)

Question 50

Generally speaking, what did the PSOE believe about the republic? and what did they argue for?

Answer 50

that it was destined to become a mature capitalist democracy. They argued for a society that protected individual rights and allowed workers to improve their position through the action of unions and through laws that protected workers rights.

Question 51

Did the PSOE believe that Spain could become a fully socialist society?

Answer 51

No they did not believe so, and so instead, they believed that they should fight for a better position for workers within capitalism

Question 52

What was the most significant communist group in Spain?

Answer 52

It was the Communist Party of Spain (PCE)

Question 53

How was the Spanish communist movement divided?

Answer 53

It was dived between those who were influenced by Leon Trotsky, and those following the policies set out by the Soviet Communist Party.

Question 54

What was the size and influence of the PCE?

Answer 54

It was relatively small in size and had little influence within Spains trade union’s

Question 55

Does Catalonia have its own language?

Answer 55

Yes

Question 56

Why was Catalonia one of Spains most affluent regions?

Answer 56

Because of its relatively rapid industrial development

Question 57

How was the Catalonian region treated during the rule of Primo de Rivera?

Answer 57

During his dictatorship, Catalonian culture and aspirations for independence were repressed

Question 58

What did the repression of Catalonia during Primo de Rivera’s rule do?

Answer 58

It only strengthened Catalonia’s demands for greater autonomy from the central government in Madrid

Question 59

What was the ‘Regionalist League’?

Answer 59

A separatist political group demanding self-government for Catalonia

Question 60

Why did political unrest also emerge due to the way the republic was founded?

Answer 60

Because, on the one hand, radicals and the poor hoped that the republic would deliver real change. On the other hand, the peaceful way in which the republic was founded meant that the power of elite groups was unbroken. They were still powerful and in a strong position to resist change

Question 61

What were the two main methods that opponents of the republic employed to ensure that the existing elites retained their power?

Answer 61

1) Accidentalists: these believed the best way to defeat the radicals was to use the democratic process. Accidentalists such as Jose Maria Gil-robles argued that right-wing groups could win elections and resist change by forming democratic governments.
2) Catastrophists: these were conservative monarchists. They wanted to overthrow the new republic through violence and re-establish a monarchy

Question 62

When did the first step in the campaign against the republic take place? and what was it?

Answer 62

It took place in April 1931. The right wing magazine ‘El Debate’ began a campaign to create a single united anti-republican movement

Question 63

When did political violence begin?

Answer 63

It began in May 1931, with a series of church burnings

Question 64

What did the conservative right argue about such church burnings?

Answer 64

They argued that the burnings showed that the republic was lawless and determined to destroy the traditions of Spain

Question 65

How did the new gov defend itself from such accusations?

Answer 65

It argued that the violence had been carried out by groups associated with the conservatives in order to discredit the new republic

Question 66

What were the economic problems the new gov faced?

Answer 66

-Spanish industrial development lagged behind the most advanced economies. There were some regions, particularly in northern Spain, where industry was more advanced. In Catalonia, for example, there was a thriving textiles industry, which led to foreign trade. However, in general terms the Spanish economy was still predominantly agricultural, with 46% of the Spanish workforce employed on farms
-poverty was widespread, even in relatively developed areas in the north. Poverty meant that there was little domestic demand for industrial goods and therefore little stimulus for economic development.
-wages were very low and there was little state help to protect the poor from the extremes of poverty
-infrastructure and sanitation within Spanish cities were of a very low quality
-the previous gov had borrowed large sums of money, so the republic inherited a large budget deficit
-Spain was badly affected by the Great Depression, which resulted in falling exports and declining industrial production. Unemployment rose from 400,000 in 1931 to 600,000 in 1933
-the peseta had to be devalued, which further reduced confidence in Spains economy

Question 67

What were the social problems the new republic inherited? (poverty)

Answer 67

poverty:
-Most peasants worked a 16-hour day and on average earned only 5 pesetas a day. This wage had to cover debt repayments - many peasants owed money to the landlords they worked for - and all of their living costs.
-on 35 pesetas a week peasant families could not afford meat, fish or eggs
-agricultural work was seasonal, in some areas workers were only employed for 130 days a year. Therefore they had to save a large proportion of their wages in order to get through the periods of unemployment
-the urban working class tended to be better off than the rural peasantry - an urban worker could earn 15 pesetas a day
-large numbers of peasants moved to the cities to escape rural poverty. However, conditions in the cities were often harsh. There were no houses or facilities to support the newly arrived workers and as a result, shanty towns grew on the outskirts of cities.
-Spains new factories were often hastily put together and dangerous
-although the urban workers were better paid than the peasants, Spanish society was highly unequal and therefore compared with the middle-class and the Spanish aristocracy, the workers were impoverished.

Question 68

What did the churches and landowners do to support the rural peasants?

Answer 68

Rural churches organised some charity for the poorest peasants. Landowners did little to support their workers

Question 69

What were the social problems the new republic inherited? (educational problems)

Answer 69

-the Spanish population was poorly educated
-in 1930, only 55% of children between the ages of 5 and 14 were enrolled in schools. This compared poorly to France, where 80% of children attended school.
-Spains literacy rate was around 70%, significantly below the rates in Britain, France and Germany, were almost the entire population was literate
-while the Spanish gov did build 500 schools a year between the years of 1908 and 1930, the republican government built 7,000 schools in its first year. Such figures indicate that the monarchy was considerably less committed to education than the democratic republic was.