Charlotte Bigsby

Analyse the causes of the Spanish civil war

The Spanish began on the 17th July 1936 when an extreme group of military
nationalists led by such officers as Franco, Mola, Goded, Sanjuro and Quiepo
staged a coup after the assassination of right-wing leader Jos Calvo Sotelor.
However, there were greater, deep-rooted issues within Spain responsible for the
war. Long term issues were the role of the church and the army, economic and
social divisions while in the short term polarization leading to ineffective
government.
A key source of tension and division in Spain was the divide between rich
landowners and the peasant workers they employed. In the 19 th century, large
amounts of previously royal or church land had been sold however the ownership
of this land was unevenly distributed, for instance in the southern province of
Crdoba 7% of landowners controlled 52% of the land, they then exploited the
poor for cheap labour who had no option. Little was done to prevent this due to
corruption within government and close links between landowners with local
police and government. This caused growing bitterness in workers and rural
unrest with rising left wing views. The FNTT (National Federation of Land
Workers) grew from 27,000 members in 1930 to over a million by 1932. Anger
also increased after 1931 as land reforms by the left republic were not as
effective as most workers desired but also because the right republic sought to
undo these reforms when they came to power in 1933.
Unrest grew in industrial areas as well as in rural areas as low wages, poor living
conditions and Marxist and anarchist ideas spread. Though being predominantly
agricultural, Spain had centres of industrial development in the more
economically dynamic north such as Barcelona, Madrid and Bilbao. Conditions
were equally as bad for workers in these cities as it was in the countryside
however the close proximity allowed workers to organise themselves more
effectively forming trade unions and political groups, founding the CNT in 1910
which encouraged general strikes to achieve its aims of improving conditions and
gaining a greater level of equality for workers. Additionally the CNT allied with
the UGT, another trade union, in 1917 calling for a general strike which took
place in Barcelona. There were violent clashes between workers and the civil
guard serving to increase tensions between workers and those who ruled them.
Post-war unrest was another cause for strikes for instance the Russian revolution
and post-war depression resulted in a general strike in another general strike in
Barcelona in 1919 which involved over 100,000 workers, though this strike did
achieve union recognition and an eight hour day. The main cause of this unrest
was fear amongst the ruling classes of an uprising and greater support for
conservatives and for far-right organisations, meaning in 1936 there was a
greater level of support for the military coup then would have otherwise existed.
Other social divisions arose from Basque and Catalonia areas who wanted
separatism from greater Spanish state. The people of these areas had a separate
language and culture as well as economic differences, being more industrial,
many therefore wanted autonomy and separation from the Spanish government.
This caused dispute primarily between the left republic and its opponents as it
granted Catalonian autonomy, losing support in doing so, increasing opposition
from the church and the army both of whom were against separatism.

Charlotte Bigsby
Separatism was therefore a key source of tension between the left-republic and
the army and a contributing reason the coup in 1936.
After losing most of its overseas colonies, Spain the early 20 th century had an
oversized army with too many officers and little purpose. The army was
important symbol of Spains former greatness, its unity and integrity and
therefore still had much support, particularly from wealthy upper classes many of
whom were employed as officers. Consequently the army was totally opposed to
separatism and to the strikes and riots staged by peasants. With little other use
the army was used against the peasants, in particular 1918-21, the three years
of bolshevism. The brutality, including the use of torture against workers caused
a lasting resentment between both sides, a feeling also increased by the armys
embarrassing failure to prevent a Moroccan uprising in 1921, they were blamed
for the loss of Spains colonial assets and status as a great power. Additionally
the popular front government of 1936 had reason to fear the army is given its
history of removing government establishing a new one such as in 1874 and in
1923 when Primo de Riveras dictatorship was formed. The army was therefore a
huge threat to the Republican government as it had the power, the support and
the motive to attempt a coup which they proved in 1936.
Like the army, the church was an integral institution to Spanish society,
traditionally working directly with the army, converting to Catholicism what the
army conquered. The church was the instrument of propaganda for the state,
particularly its right-wing governments using fear of hell or the inquisition to
secure obedience and loyalty to king and country. The church controlled
education though 64% of Spanish people were illiterate in 1900, arguably this
was intentional to more easily subdue them. Prior to church reforms initiated by
the left republic priests were paid by the state as well as being funded by the
aristocracy. The church therefore defended the interests of the upper classes
preaching the dangerous, sinful nature of ideas such as socialism, liberalism and
democracy which led to great resentment from the poor and urban workers
which was also demonstrated by Spain having the lowest church attendance rate
in 1900 of all of Europe. The greatest source of resentment towards the church
came from their close link with the army and civil guard and their justification of
brutal force to put down civil disobedience. The church became a hated
institution by many with acts of violence committed against it even before the
outbreak of civil war and was therefore a great source of tension between liberal
workers and the conservative military.
In the short term before the coup of 1936, a key cause of anger amongst both
conservatives and the left-wing were reforms initiated by the left republic. Anticlericalism was a main aim of the republic and much power was removed from
the church causing great conflict where anger against the church by peasants
resulted in violence against clergy and churches but others within Spain,
conservatives and traditionalist were outraged at the attempt to limit church
power. The left republic banned the church from education and abolished state
support for the church. This pushed moderate Catholics who had been
sympathetic to the cause of the left-wing parties and had voted as such towards
right-wing parties such as the CEDA which was the catholic conservative party
which grew significantly becoming the largest party in the parliament in 1933.
Another part of the church reforms was the redistribution of church land however
this was unsuccessful on all fronts as the expense was too great for the

Charlotte Bigsby
government to enforce and therefore peasants were left disappointed due to not
enough being done, staging strikes which were put down by the civil guard, an
act which caused divisions within left-wing groups as anarchists accused
socialists of supporting a government which attacked strikers. Landowners were
also subject to land reforms and consequently attempted to use cheap labour to
cultivate their land to prevent the government seizing it however the
government increased wages, causing many to shift their political stance to the
right. Increased opposition due to church and land reforms was not the only issue
for the republic as army reforms were also imposed and military spending was
cut. However these measures were very unpopular and added to the already
high tensions. The left republic created tension not just between the left and the
right but also amongst different left-wing groups and failed to satisfy any group
with their reforms creating an environment in which civil war could ensue.
The lack of support for the left republic was evident by their loss in the 1933
election to the CEDA and the radicals whose primary aim to undo reforms made
within the previous three years. Socialism and anarchism were harshly
suppressed causing many only moderate socialists to become disillusioned with
the republic, fearing a dictatorship like those in Germany and Italy under Hitler
and Mussolini. Further reason to fear the republic came after strikes and
uprisings were brutally put down by Francos army of Africa, one notable
example was a strike in Asturias in which thousands were killed and many others
were arrested and even tortured, highlighting an ongoing struggle between
workers and the army. This again resulted in a switch of political alliances as a
new popular front government was voted in 1936. The left-wing parties were able
to gain a majority in parliament in 1936 with 278 seats compared to the rightwing with 124 seats, however 4.6 million votes were for the left while the right
had 4.5 million votes. This meant the popular front government had the power
but not support within Spain and due to polarisation, increased support for both
the extreme left and the extreme right, there was a serious threat of instability.
Fears also arose regarding international communism and the possibility of Spain
becoming a communist state. The shifts in government from left to right and
back to left ultimately caused the military generals to stage the coup in 1936 in
order to intervene in government and supposedly restore stability.
The main cause for civil war in Spain in 1936 was the social and economic
divisions within Spain. These caused the failure and ineffectiveness of the left
republic during its three years of existence. Reforms failed to satisfy the poor
while angering the rich and increased polarisation and the support for right-wing
extremist groups which led to the military coup in 1936.
However, there were greater, deep-rooted issues within Spain responsible for the
war. Long term issues were the role of the church and the army, economic and
social divisions while in the short term polarization leading to ineffective
government.