History: Causes, Practices and Effects of Wars for the IB Diploma
A complete and detailed summary of Pearson Baccalaureate: Causes and Effects of 20th-century Wars’ chapter 11, Spanish Civil War (p. 221 – 251). Perfect if you need a shortened down version of the book containing all the important things. Or if want to go over the book's main contents before yo...
Pearson Baccalaureate - 01- Overview- Causes and effects of 20th-century wars (p. 3 – 9)
Pearson Baccalaureate - 03. Cross-regional war - World War One Practices (p.45-75)
Pearson Baccalaureate - 7. WWII – Causes III - The war in the Pacific (p.147-163)
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Pearson Baccalaureate – World History:
Causes and Effects of 20th Century Wars
Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) (p. 221 – 251)
Long-term causes of the Spanish Civil War: political instability (1820-1931)
Spain struggled between periods of Conservatism and Liberalism which caused tension and
division. These Fractures would become more acute in the decade before the civil war broke out.
Weakness of government
1871: constitutional monarchy, where the ind was head of the state appointing a prime minister
who commanded a majority in the cortes. The cortes was elected by the male population.
However, real political power was held by the wealthy oligarchs and power beshifted between
the different cliques: Conservatives and Liberals. Elections were rigged and corrupted, there were
no democratic parties.
The role of the Spanish army
Powerful political position due to Spain’s imperial past. As the “protector of the nation” it
believed to have the right and duty to intervene in politics during crises. Thus, the army
intervened several times, did not, however, act to save the king in 1931 → exile.
The intervention in 1936 ultimately led to the civil war.
The army was unpopular amongst the people: brutal, expensive, heavy taxes for maintenance,
proved ineffective due to losing the Spanish empire, a war with America and the struggle to keep
control over Morocco. The upper and middle classes, however, supported the army as they
dominated the officer corps.
The army was generally Conservative but the Africanistas were the most experienced and
Nationalistic.
The army was also in need of reform: too big, to many officers.
The role of the church
The Catholic church also held a lot of power and they were disputes between church and state.
1851: Concordat, which made Catholicism the state religion → state guaranteed the role of the
church in economy and education and the church has used its wealth to gain considerable
political and social influence.
The Church used its power to support Conservatism and was opposed to modern and liberal
forces. Aristocrats made up the majority of senior clergy and supported the church economically.
= church was obliged to defend the rights and status of the upper classes
→ resentment amongst the poor = protests, educated middle class wanting to limit church’s
power over education.
Economic causes
The misery and discontent of the agricultural workers was a key factor leading to civil war.
Although agriculture was the main source of employment, fundamental problems (=not
providing enough food, seasonal work, workers needing to migrate for work, povery amongst
peasants, latifundias = land owned by the ‘Grandees’ dominating the political system, Northern
peasants owning too land to small to make an adequate living etc.) made it inefficient.
Riots were common in the countryside where the Civil Guard were instructed to ruthlessly
repress any disorder. As the church did not provide any support, some looked to groups such as
, the anarchists who argued for land redistribution. Most landowners, however, were Catholic and
conservative and thus opposed to socialist ideas. The farmers’ conservatism was used by the
Catholic Agrarian Federation offering support for farmers in return for their rejection of
socialism (these farmers would later support Franco).
There was also need for modernisation and reform. Spain largely had not been industrialised in
the 19th century and expansion was limited by poverty. Workers in the towns, meanwhile also
faced low wages and poor conditions which led to the formations of trade unions which
competed with each other. The trade unions failed to achieve anything substantial.
Also, the workers’ political parties had no political power.
No legal means of improving the situation = violent uprisings
Spain’s neutrylity during WWI = short period of economic boom.
However, with the increase of exports → shortages, inflation, bad living standards for working
class, increase in uprisings.
By the 1920s, there were big economic problems which caused to the violent conflicts between
employers and employees.
The role of the regions
Another thind which caused tension, was the ongoing struggle between the centralist state and
Catalonia and the Basque provinces which wanted independence. The Basques and Catalans had
their own language, cultures, economies and churches.
Additionally, most Spanish industries were concentrated in these regions. Protests by workers
were met with brutal responses from the authorities. Primo de Rivera (experienced military
official before becoming prime minister in 1923 and ruling Spain as a dictator until 1930) took
back the self-governing rights of Catalonia. Luis Companys set up a radical Catalan Nationalist
Party, the Esquerra. Its separatist forces supported the Republican movement overthrowing the
king in 1931.
Political opposition
There were many groups opposed to the political system in Spain contributing to the violent
conflict in 1936.
The Liberals:
- The liberal movement had not really avhieved to oppose the COnsrvative forces in the
19th century but still remained a political force supporting the overthrow of the king.
The Socialists:
- The Partido Socialista Obrero Español (PSOE) had grown in urban areas in the late
19th century but had a minimal impact
- The UGT (another socialist party) was more visible in organising strikes in the urban
regions.
- Following the Bolshevik Revolution, a small Communist party had emerged.
→ The Socialists and the Liberals played a significant tole in 1931, but the parties did not agree
on the reforms that should take place.
The Anarchists:
- Demanded redistribution of land and argued for revolutionary methods boycotting all
democratic processes. The CNT, their trade union, was active in organising strikes.
- The Federación Anarquista Ibérica was a more extreme faction plotting bombings
and assassinations.
The fall of the monarchy and the establishment of the Second Republic
The military defeat in Morocco and the post-WWI economic depression put pressure on King
Alfonso XIII. After 12 unsuccessful governments, Alfonso did not resist the military’s
intervention nor General Primo de Rivera seizing power.
Rivera tried to establish an authoritarian right-wing regime redressing Spain’s problems. It was a
military dictatorship, however, the king was retained supporting the regime.
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