The Second Spanish Republic and the Civil War
Des. 98
Spanish Defeat: Loss of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.
Rif
Conflict in Moroccan Rif Region: Part of the Spanish protectorate. The Berber population of the Rif revolted against Spanish domination. Troops suffered a major defeat in the Battle of Annual 1921.
Brig Intern
International Brigades: Volunteer groups formed by intellectuals sympathetic to the Republican cause, participated in the Civil War in defense of democratic values.
CEDA
CEDA: Party formed by several conservative political parties. Objective: to be part of the government during the center-right biennium, paralyzing Republic reforms.
4 Phases of the Civil War
1st Phase: March Towards Madrid (July 1936 – March 1937)
Moroccan troops, led by Franco, entered the south of the peninsula with the intention of conquering Madrid. Faced with the threat, the Republican side mobilized to defend the capital. The Government of the Republic moved to Valencia in November. After the defeat of the rebels in the battles of Jarama and Guadalajara, Franco decided to abandon the Madrid front and reorient his efforts towards the north.
2nd Phase: Northern Campaigns (March – October 1937)
Franco headed north to take Asturias, Cantabria, and País Vasco. In this phase, the bombing of Guernica by the German Condor Legion took place. The Republicans began the offensives of Brunete (Madrid) and Belchite (Zaragoza) to divide the rebellious army, but this did not prevent them from losing the Cantabrian strip.
Support for Primo de Rivera
He was supported by the conservatives, the middle classes, and Alfonso XIII.
Support for the Rebel Side in the Civil War
The rebellious side, which called itself the national side, was formed by the right, the FET de las JONS, the Carlist monarchists, the Alfonsinos, the CEDA, part of the army, landowners, and the Catholic Church. This side received support from Italy, Germany, and Portugal.
Educational and Religious Reform
Main Objective: Ending illiteracy by establishing a public, compulsory, secular, and mixed educational system.
Measures:
- Schools and libraries were built.
- Compulsory and free primary education.
- Teachers increased, and investments were made in their training.
- Religion was no longer a compulsory subject.
The separation between Church and State, which had been reflected in the Constitution, was reinforced with new measures:
- The budget dedicated to worship and the clergy was eliminated.
- Civil marriage and divorce were approved.
- Cemeteries and hospitals were secularized.
- Religious orders were dissolved, and their assets nationalized.
- A liberal and secular education was promoted.
As a consequence, the church and the most conservative sectors became enemies of the Republic.
The government considered access to culture social justice. Thus, the Misiones Pedagógicas were created, which tried to bring culture closer to the people. La Barraca, a theater group, brought classic Spanish theater to rural towns.
Political Consequences of the Civil War: After the war, the Franco regime was imposed, a military dictatorship that sought to annihilate the Republic and all those who had supported it. This regime, which lasted 40 years, limited the rights and freedoms of the Spanish people.
3rd Phase: Advance Towards the Mediterranean (December 1937 – November 1938)
Rebels arrived in Teruel, advanced through Aragon, reached the Mediterranean coast. To stop their advance towards Catalonia, the Republican Government gathered all its forces in the Battle of the Ebro. After starting the offensive, the Republican troops had to retreat.
4th Phase: The End of the War (November 1938 – April 1939)
Franco’s troops occupied Catalonia. Republican resistance was reduced to Madrid and the Mediterranean region from Valencia to Almeria. Juan Negrín, the President of the Government, sought to prolong the war. However, the negotiated exit option triumphed. On March 28, Madrid and the Mediterranean area fell. On April 1, 1939, the war ended.
Rev 1934
The paralysis of the reforms of the previous biennium + the amnesty granted to the people who participated in the coup d’état of 1932 + the access of the CEDA to the Government, the proto-totalitarian ideas caused the rejection of the left. The PSOE, the PCE, and the unions called a general strike that would lead to a revolt.
Main Sources of Rebellion:
- Catalonia: The army suspended the Catalan Statute of Autonomy and imprisoned the Generalitat Government.
- Asturias: The miners were harshly repressed by the army.
The repression led to new elections.
Primo de Rivera’s Rise to Power
In 1923, General Primo de Rivera carried out a coup d’état, suspending the Constitution and the parliamentary regime. He was supported by the conservatives, the middle classes, and Alfonso XIII.
In domestic politics, he established the Patriotic Union as an official political movement. He illegalized the PCE and the CNT, persecuted nationalism, and reduced citizen freedoms. He developed the network of roads, railways, hydraulic and electrical works. In addition, he created state monopolies, such as Telefónica and CAMPSA.
At first, it had great support since it improved the economy and restored order. The economic crisis of 1929, political opposition, and the loss of support from the army and the king led to his resignation in 1930. Alfonso XIII tried to return to the constitutional regime. However, after seven years of dictatorship supported by the king, the monarchy had been discredited. Republicans and socialists signed the Pact of San Sebastián (1930) demanding the establishment of a Republic.
shment of a Republic.