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Self-government in Catalan
The region of Catalan was granted an autonomy by the republic government. because of this, the Right WIng were unhappy because they felt a threat to Spain's overall power. -
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Catalan's control over the latifunda
The Agarian reform law allowed Catalan to nationalise the latifunda* and then hand them over to the peasants.
*large areas owned by the land
- compensating the landowners was complicated and expensive
- not everyone in the government agreed on the plan to take over the latifunda
- it was never implemented on a large scale
- consequently it angered the landowners and peasants -
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officer corps retires at full pay
Half of the officer corps were made to retire at full pay (leaving little money for social reform);
-Azana told the army they had no right to challenge the government;
-a military revolt by General Sanjuro in 1932 was crushed -
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foundation of the right-wing Catholic CEDA party
The government’s decisions led to the foundation of the right-wing Catholic CEDA party
-led by Gil Robles.
-At the same time a fascist party – the Falange (Phalanx) - was established by the son of Primo de Rivera, Jose Antonio. -
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Labour Arbitration Scheme
Primo’s Labour Arbitration Scheme was extended and improved with the help of the UGT
-The UGT trebled its membership during this period -
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Jesuits no longer allowed as a religious group
The Jesuits were no longer allowed to operate as a religious group
-the state withdrew subsidies to the Church
-civil marriage was permitted
-divorce was allowed and
-Prime Minister Azana, well-known for being direct and honest (or insensitive and arrogant, depending on your perspective), said “all the convents in Madrid are not worth the life of a single Republican”. -
end to compulsory education
New government announces the end to compulsory education in schools -
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death of anarchist prisoners
In 1933 government troops shot dead anarchist prisoners in Cadiz.
-This created a crisis that led to elections being called for November 1933. -
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Right Wing colaition government
A right-wing coalition government had power after the elections.
-It reversed the process of reform and cancelled the measures against the Church
-The period from 1933 to 1935 became known as the “two black years” by those on the Left, who became divided between
-socialists (led by Prieto ) who wanted to work with the coaltion and
-the UGT (led by Caballero ) who wanted violent opposition to it -
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opposition to the government exploded into violence
In 1934 opposition to the government exploded into violence in the Asturias Uprising, an anarchist miners’ revolt
-lasting two weeks which was only stopped after much fighting by the troops of General Franco
-Franco became known as the "Butcher of Asturias".
-Mass arrests followed (even Azana was briefly arrested),
-left wing newspapers were closed and
-the Catalan Autonomy Statute was suspended -
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The Asturias Uprising
The Asturias Uprising was “a watershed in the history of the Republic” (a quote from the historian, Knight) because it led to more extreme politics:
-It pushed the Left (especially the UGT of Caballero) towards a revolution, and
-Convinced the Right that the Fascism promoted by Rivera’s Falange was the only way to control the workers. -
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The international situation
The international situation strongly influenced the development of opposite ideas in Spain:
-the growing power of Fascism and Communism in Europe convinced many on both sides of politics that moderate politics would mean disaster. -
the countdown war
- an election was called ▪ A Popular Front of Communists, Socialists, Republicans and Separatists was formed to oppose the government. ▪The right wing formed the National Front. ▪Increasing tension meant that the Left now regarded the Right as Fascists; the Right regarded the Left as Communists.
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the countdown to war
▪The Popular Front won only slightly more votes than the National Front, but
-the voting system made this into a large majority of seats in Parliament.
▪ However, Caballero’s socialists, still bitter about the failures of Azana’s earlier government, refused to join.
-This weakened not only the government but also the Left wing of Spanish politics as a whole.
▪ Despite these problems, the new government immediately reintroduced the reforms of the 1931-3 government
- banned the Falange and -
the countdown to the war
▪ The socialist UGT called a general strike among the proletariat
▪ The fascist Falange started to grow dramatically
▪ Most seriously, the army began plotting to overthrow the weak new government..
-The leader of the plot was General Mola. -
the countdown to war
On the 13th of July the monarchist politician, Calvo Sotelo, was assassinated by Republican police (revenge for the murder of one of their men by a Falangist).
-The military now had the perfect excuse to make their move.
-Their revolt began on the 17th of July in Spanish Morocco – led by Franco. -
repubblic moves to valencia
Republican government moves from Madrid to Valencia. -
execution of miguel primo de rivera
Miguel Primo de Rivera, leader of the Falange Española, executed in Alicante.