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The Spanish Civil War ====Background====Spain was one a very divided, unstable and weak country in the 19th century. Once a great power, Spain lost almost the last of the bloodiest wars its colonies after its defeat in the Twentieth Century in EuropeSpanish-American war.<ref>Vincent, Mary (2007). ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0198731590/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0198731590&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=ffee06581c91b4c78b72eef90c3e858f Spain, 1833–2002]''. The war Oxford, UK; New York: Oxford University Press</ref> It was not simply technically a Spanish affairmonarchy, but it was to draw power had frequently been in other nations, including Italy, Portugal, Germany and the Soviet Unionhands of military dictators. The war country was a result bitterly divided. The acute poverty of the Spanish people meant that many factorswere drawn to Communism, Anarchism, and Socialism. <ref>Beevor, some of which will be discussed hereAntony (2006). ''[https://www.amazon. com/gp/product/014303765X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=014303765X&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=b54b43da8965b066ed125b18696e983b The Battle for Spain: The main cause of the Spanish Civil War1936–1939]''. London, was UK: Weidenfield and Nicolson</ref> These ideologies call for popular governments and the failure re-distribution of Spanish democracy. This was because there was a refusal by the Spanish parties and groups to compromise resources, such as land and respect democratic normswealth.

Spanish anarchists, socialists, and communists were secular and wanted to remove the influence of the Catholic Church from Spanish society. The elite and the middle class were especially conservative. They dominated the economy and feared that the Communists would confiscate their property. This is typified in the fact that much of the best land in Spain was owned by a relatively small proportion of the population. Furthermore, the wealthy and the middle class, especially in rural society was Catholics and resisted any idea that there should be a separation of Church in State in Spain.<ref>Lannon, Frances (1987). ''[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0198219237/ref=as_li_tl?ie=BackgroundUTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0198219237&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=5cd638cac74ee91552e49fa7893cba18 Privilege, Persecution, and Prophecy: The Catholic Church in Spain, 1875–1975]''. Oxford, UK: Clarendon Press</ref> The elite and the rich landowners, the ‘agrarian oligarchy’ were terrified of communism, especially after the Russian Revolution in 1917.

By 1930, Spain was a very bitterly divided, unstable into social and weak country in the 19th centuryideological lines. Once Spain was and is a great power, Spain lost almost the last of its colonies after it defeat in the Spanish-American wardiverse society.<ref>Vincent, Mary (2007). ''SpainBeevor, 1833–2002''. Oxford, UK; New York[https: Oxford University Press</ref> It was technically a monarchy, but power had frequently been in the hands of military dictators/www. The country was bitterly dividedamazon. The acute poverty of the Spanish people meant that many were drawn to Communism, Anarchism and Socialism. <com/gp/product/014303765X/ref>Beevor, Antony (2006). ''=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=014303765X&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=b54b43da8965b066ed125b18696e983b The Battle for Spain: The Spanish Civil War 1936–1939]''. London, UK: Weidenfield and Nicolson</ref> These ideologies call for popular governments and There are many areas of the re-distribution country with strong regional or national identities. Many of resourcesthe regions in Spain, such as land the Catalans, demanded more autonomy or even outright independence from Madrid, such as the Basques. The tensions between the regions and wealththe central government meant that the country was inherently unstable, as a compromise was impossible, between the parties.

Spanish anarchists, socialists and communists were secular and wanted to remove the influence ====The Failure of the Catholic Church from Spanish society. The elite and Government====Spain had been neutral during the middle class were especially conservativeFirst World War. They dominated the economy and feared that However, this had not made the Communists would confiscate their propertycountry peaceful or prosperous. This is typified in In the fact that much wake of the best land in Spain was owned by a relatively small proportion ending of the population. FurthermoreWWI, the wealthy and the middle class, especially in rural society there was Catholics and resisted any idea that there should be a separation of Church in State in Spainmajor economic slump.<ref>LannonBeevor, Frances (1987). ''Privilege, Persecution, and Prophecy[https: //www.amazon.com/gp/product/014303765X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=014303765X&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=b54b43da8965b066ed125b18696e983b The Catholic Church in Battle for Spain, 1875–1975: The Spanish Civil War 1936–1939]''. Oxford, UK: Clarendon Press</ref> The elite working class and the rich landownersrural poor suffered greatly at this time and they began to organize themselves and Communists and Anarchists often led them. At this time the Trade Unions in Spain became very strong, and there were widespread strikes. In the ‘agrarian oligarchy’ were terrified of communismcountryside, especially after the Russian Revolution in 1917impoverished peasants began to seize land.

By 1930To many in the elite, Spain it seemed as if the country was bitterly divided on social the brink of the Communist revolution. Miguel Primo de Rivera, with the support of the monarchy and ideological linesarmy, launched a coup and came to power in 1923, and he became dictator of Spain. Spain He was a monarchist and is a diverse societyconservative and did nothing to reform the country and especially to alleviate the plight of the poor.<ref>Beevor, ''Battle for Spain''</ref> There are many areas of the country with strong regional or national identities. Many of the regions in SpainDe Rivera soon became very unpopular, such as the Catalans, demanded more autonomy or even outright independence from Madrid, such as the Basques. The and tensions between the regions and the central government meant that in the country was inherently unstableincreased, as compromise and he was impossiblyforced to resign. In 1931, between the partiesThe Spanish monarch resigned. It seemed that Spain had an opportunity to begin a new era and to become a real democracy after elections were held.

====Second Republic====A new constitution was introduced in 1931 ad it was a liberal document that guaranteed human rights and basic freedoms. The Constitution also separated the Church and State. The Failure state held elections again in 1932. In the first elections under the Constitution in 1933, an alliance of right-wing and center-right parties came to power. Despite the establishment of democracy, there was no stability.<ref>Paul Preston (2012). <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0393345912/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0393345912&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=fc45d15b83a9c9cf0ca5218641839bc6 The Spanish GovernmentHolocaust: Inquisition and Extermination in Twentieth-Century Spain]</i>. London, UK: HarperCollins</ref> This was partly a result of the economic consequences caused by the Great Depression. The left, including the Communists and the Trade Unions, continued to press for their agendas.<ref>Beevor, ''[http://%5Bhttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/014303765X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=014303765X&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=b54b43da8965b066ed125b18696e983b%20The%20Battle%20for%20Spain:%20The%20Spanish%20Civil%20War%201936–1939%5D Battle for Spain]''</ref> They sought the nationalization of industry and the redistribution of land to the poor. General Strikes and local left-wing revolts constantly undermined the first democratically elected government.

Spain had been neutral during In particular, there was a revolt by miners in Asturias, which was suppressed by the First World Wararmy. However, this had The left could not made the country peaceful or prosperous. In simply abide by the wake outcome of the ending election, and instead of the WWIachieving their goals by constitutional means, there was a major economic slumpthey opted for violent methods.<ref>BeevorVincent, Mary (2007). ''Battle for Spain, 1833–2002''. Oxford, UK; New York: Oxford University Press</ref> [[File: Bundesarchiv_Bild_102-11543,_Madrid,_Ausrufung_der_Zweiten_Spanischen_Republik.jpg|thumbnail|left|The working class and proclamation of the rural poor suffered greatly at this time Second Republic in Madrid]]The weakened government eventually collapsed, and they began to organize themselves and they new elections were often led by called for 1936. The General Election saw a victory for a left-wing alliance of parties, including Communists , Anarchists, and AnarchistsSocialists. At Regional parties also supported this time the Trade Unions in Spain became very strong and there were widespread strikesgovernment. In the countryside impoverished peasants began to seize land. To many in the elite it seemed as if the country was on the brink They immediately launched an ambitious program of Communist revolution. Miguel Primo de Riverareforms, with especially land reform to meet the support ‘expectations of the monarchy urban and army launched a coup and came to power rural poor,’ that alienated many in 1923, and he became dictator of Spain. He was a monarchists and conservative and did nothing to reform the country and especially to alleviate the plight of the poorSpanish elite.<ref>BeevorPreston, ''Battle for Spain''7.</ref> De Rivera soon became very unpopular and tensions in the country increased and he was forced to resign. In 1931, The Spanish monarch resigned. It seemed Many Spaniards believed that Spain had an opportunity to begin a new era and to become a true democracy, after elections were heldcommunist revolution was imminent.

The proclamation “They eyed with mounting alarm the red flags and banners and portraits of Lenin, Stalin and Largo Caballero on huge placards, and listened to the Second Republic in Madrid imagechanting of the demonstrators, demanding the formation of a proletarian government and a people’s army’’.<ref> Beevor, 124.</ref>

A weakened government eventually collapsed and new elections were called for 1936. The General Election saw a victory for In response, right-wing extremists such as the Falange militia began a violent campaign against the left-wing alliance of parties, including Communists, Anarchists and Socialists. This government was also supported by regional parties. They immediately launched an ambitious program of reforms, especially land reform to meet The right could not accept that the ‘expectations of Left was the urban legitimate governments and rural poor’, that antagonize many in the Spanish elite.<ref>Preston, 7.</ref> Many Spaniards believed that a communist revolution was imminent. “They eyed with mounting alarm the red flags and banners and portraits of Lenin, Stalin and Largo Caballero on huge placards, and listened they were entitled to use violence means to the chanting of the demonstrators, demanding the formation of a proletarian government secure their position and a people’s army’’.<ref> Beevor, 124interests.</ref>

In response ====Countdown to Civil War====<dh-ad/>It was clear by 1936 that Spain was on the edge of a major confrontation between the left and the right-wing extremists such as and between the Falange militia regions. There began a violent campaign against series of political assassinations. The right openly called for the military to stage a coup to oust the left-wing government, which some saw as only the puppets of the Soviet Union. The right could not accept that Much of the Left Spanish Army was stationed in the legitimate governments and believed that they were entitled to use violence means to secure their position and interestscountry’s last colonies in Morocco.<ref>Beevor, ''Battle for Spain''</ref>

==Countdown The left-wing government believed that the military was too far away from Spain because the government was losing control of the situation and there was fighting between the Falange militia and the police on the streets of several cities, resulting in many deaths. Then the Spanish Army Generals, led by General Franco, launched a coup, they managed to Civil War==fly their forces, with the assistance of the German government to Spain. The arrival of regular Spanish units from Morocco on the Spanish mainland was the trigger for an all-out war that was to ‘leave half-a-million people dead.’<ref>Preston</ref>

It ====Conclusion====The Spanish Civil War was clear caused by 1936 that Spain was on the edge of a many factors, including major confrontation between the left socio-economic problems, such as poverty and inequality. However, the right and between the regions. There began a series on of political assassinations. The right openly called for the military main causes was all sides’ failure to stage a coup compromise and to oust respect the left wing government, which some saw as only the puppets rights and opinions of the Soviet Unionothers. Much of This failure meant that the Spanish Army was stationed in the country’s last colonies in Morocco.<ref>Beevor, ''Battle for Spain''</ref> The left-wing Second Republic could never provide a government believed that could bring stability and prosperity to the military as they were too far away from Spaincountry. The government was losing control of the situation and there was fighting between the Falange militia and the police on the streets of several cities, resulting Political violence became endemic in many deaths. Then the Spanish Army Generalscountry as a consequence, led by General Franco, launched and it escalated until it became a coup, they managed to fly their forces, with the assistance of the Nazi German government to Spain. The arrival of regular Spanish units from Morocco on the Spanish mainland was the trigger for an allfull-out scale civil war that was to ‘leave half-a-million people dead.’<ref>Preston</ref> General Franco image

The Spanish Civil War was caused by many factors, including major socio-economic problems, such as poverty and inequality====Related DailyHistory. However, org Articles====*[[What were the main cause was all sides’ failure to compromise goals of the Axis powers and to respect the rights and opinions Soviet Union during World War Two?]]*[[How Did the German Military Develop Blitzkrieg?]]*[[Causes of World War II Top Ten Booklist]]*[[How did Winston Churchill become Prime Minister of others. This meant that the Second Republic, could never provide a government that could bring stability and prosperity to the country. Political violence became endemic United Kingdom in the country as a consequence and it escalated until it became a full scale civil war. World War Two?]]*[[How did Mussolini become Prime Minister of Italy?]]

[[Category:Wikis]][[Category:Spanish History]] [[Category:Military History]][[Category:European History]] [[Category:20th Century History]]====References====