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Coup
General Miguel Primo de Rivera overthrew the government and established a dictatorship to prevent the Monarchy from falling. -
Period: to
The Left Republic of 1931-3
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Agrarian Reform Law
- The Agrarian Reform Law publicised private ownership of land, handing them to the peasants. Landowners were given compensation for this, however it was an expensive and complicated process. The law wasn't supported by the whole government which prevented it from being implemented across the whole of Spain. This angered both peasants and landowners. -
Republic
Spain became a Republic after the Republican party won all of the major cities in Spain. King Alfonso XIII relinquished power to avoid a civil war. -
Labour Arbitration Scheme
The UGT (General Union of Workers), a trade union, improved and extended the Labour Arbitration Scheme. During this time the UGT's membership tripled. -
The UGT
The UGT (General Union of Workers), a trade union, improved and extended the Labour Arbitration Scheme. During this time the UGT's membership tripled. -
Catalan and the Basque Country's autonomy
Catalan and the Basque Country were granted self-government, which upset the right-wing parties as they believed it would threaten Spain's overall power. -
Jesuits
The Jesuits, which are a male religious order of the Catholic Church, were no longer able to operate as a religious group in Spain. -
General Sanjuro
General Sanjuro, initially in command of the Spanish Republican Army, was demoted after disagreements with Azana over the military. Azana made it so half of the soldiers had to retire at full pay. Sanjuro attempted a overthrow the government, however the army chose to side with the government as they had one the election fairly. -
Period: to
The Right Republic of 1933-5: “Two Black Years”
The power of fascism and communism overseas convinced the majority of people on both sides that extreme politics was the best. -
Elections are called
An election was called after government soldiers killed anarchist (those who believe in the abolition of the government) prisoners in Cadiz. -
CEDA
Once CEDA took power they reversed the reforms that Azana's government had made, such as the cancellation of Church subsidies and the allowance of divorce. Those on the left-wing side knew the year 1933-1935 as the "two black years". They were divided between the socialist PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party) and the UGT (General Union of Workers). PSOE wished to work with the government whereas the UGT was strongly opposed to working with the government. -
Period: to
Asturian miners' strike of 1934
- The Asturias Uprising was a revolt by anarchist miners. The PSOE and UGT had organised strikes in Spain which later failed. Several miners' unions in Asturias went on with the strike, only to be defeated by General Franco's soldiers in a revolt lasting for two weeks. During this time Catalan's right to self-government was taken away, pushing the left further towards the idea of a revolution and convinced the right that fascism was the best way to control workers. -
Party formations
Right-wing parties formed the National Front, whereas the left-wing Republicans, Socialists, Communists and Separatists formed the Popular Front.The left considered the right to be Fascists, whereas the right considered the left to be communists. -
Period: to
The Countdown to War
- Caballero, leader of the PSOE, refused to join the government due to Azana's failures. This weakened the government as well as the Popular Front.- Anarchist group CNT (National Confederation of Labour) encouraged peasants to take over the land, while the UGT called for the working class to hold general strikes.
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Popular Front wins the election
In the election, the Popular Front won a most of the seats in Parliament even though they a slightly higher number of votes than the National Front.
-Caballero, leader of the PSOE, refused to join the government due to Azana's failures. This weakened the government as well as the Popular Front. -
Reforms re-instated
The reforms that were removed by the CEDA government were re-introduced, including a ban on the Falange. -
General Mola
The army led by General Mola, planned to overthrow the government. -
Morocco
Franco was flown to Morocco. -
Jose Castillo assassinated
An officer is the Republic Assault Guard, Jose Castillo, was assassinated by Falangists. -
Jose Calvo Sotelo murdered
Leading right-wing politician Sotelo was murdered as revenge by Republican police, as revenge for Castillo's death. The military used this as a reason to turn against the government. -
The Civil War begins
The revolt began in Morocco, led by Franco.
