-
Religiously, the Catholic Church was given a stranglehold over education in the Concordat between Spain and Rome.
-
Militarily, the army was overstaffed and overpowerful after the loss of cuba, the last remnant of the Spanish Empire.
-
Socially, problems of the poverty for the peasantry and the proletariat had led to bloodshed in 'Tragic Week', when the army fired on protestors.
-
Spain was a constitutional monarchy headed by King Alfonso XIII. Policitically, Spain had an inefficient and corrupt government. Regionally, Catalonia and the Basque region wanted independence.
-
A Spanish army was massacred to Morocco when it tried putting down a rebellion, This defeat was a further blow to Spanish pride.
-
General Primo de Rivera took control of Spain in a bloodless coup to prevent the collapse of the monarchy. He was to rule until 1930.
-
Rivera ended the war in Morocca and introduced public works schemes -- roads, railways, irrigation schemes. Industrtial production increased by threefold. Rivera suspended the Cortes (Parliament_ trail by jury and freedom of speech / press.
-
The Depression hit Spain hard. Agricultrural prices flummeted, Industrial production collapsed by up to 50%, Unemploymne t skyrocketed.
-
The army withdrew its support and Rivera had to resign as government leader.
-
Regions: Catalonia recieved some self-government. The Church: Jesuits expelled. RE in schools banned; divorce allowed. The army: Many army officers were made to retire early on half pay. The economy: The huge estates in Spain were Nationalised.
-
These reforms Republican goernment angered the military, industrialists, landowners and the Ctholic Church - the most powerful elements of society. These four powerful bodies looked towards the Facists for help against their Left-Wing goernment, and a new Spanish Facist party (the Falange_)was formed under Primo's son, Jose Antonio de Rivera.
-
Elections were held and Republicans won all the major cities in Spain. Alfonso abdicated to avoid civil war. Spain became a Republic.
-
The government was split between Left and Right Wing Republicans -- the former wanted rapid social reform to appeal to the working classes; the latter wanted more moderate change to reduce the opposition of the Church, landowners and military.
-
General Sanjuro led an army coup to overthrow the government lead by Manuel Azana, the prime minister. The military coup was unsuccessful as the army remained loyal to the foernment -- after all, it had won the elections fairly.
-
Republic offends the Right: A reactionary political party was formed - the Ceda - determined to protect the interestes of the Roman Catholic Church and landlords. Republic offends the Left: Two powerful left wing policitical parties, the anarchists and syndicalists (powerful trade union groups), felt that Azana's government was too moderate. Both wanted the overthrow of capitalism.
-
The extreme left organised strikes and riots in an effort to destabilise the government of Azana. 25 people were killed by government troops who were attempting to catch some anarchists near Cadiz. This lost the government a great deal of support among the working class and the socialists withdrew their support from the government.
-
Azana resigned as prime minister and elections were called; CEDA won a majority of support and formed a government led by Gil Robles which held power for what the left wing parties joined togther to form the Popular Front. They organised strikes, riots and vandalism.
-
Coal miners in the Asturias sparked off a general strike but this was ruthlessly put down by the army lead by General Franco. Spain was heading towards chaos. The Catalans had their privileges withdrawn and turned against the government.
-
A general election was called to restore order. The left wing popular front coalition won and Azana once again became prime minister. The right wing formed a National Front coaliition in reaction = more polarisation. The socialists withdrew their support from the Popular Front government in protest at its moderation. Public disturbances occured soon started spiralling the country out of control.
-
A leading right wing politian, Sotelo, was murdered. The right wing politicians argued they were in serious danger of a communist takeover. They began to favour the idea of a military dictatorship, perhaps led by General Mola.
-
General Franco assumed control of the military, seized control of Spanish Morocoo and crossed over into mainland Spain to take over the Government. The Civil War had begun.
