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The Catholic Church
The Catholic Church ducation in the Concordat between Spain and Rome. -
Period: to
Civil War
A time line of the Spanish Civil War. -
The army
The army was too staffed and too powerful after the fail of Cuba, the last time of the Spanish Empire. -
Tragic Week
Problems of proverty for the peasantry and the proletariat had led to bloodshed in the 'Tragic Week', when the army fired on protestors. -
Two goverments
Spain was a constitutional monarchy headed by King Alfonso XIII. Politically, Spain had an inefficient and corrupt goverment. Regionally, Catalonia and the Basque region wanted independence. -
A further blow
A Spanish army was defeat to Morocco when it tried putting down a rebellion. This defeat was a further blow to Spanish pride. -
General Primo de Rivera
General Pimo de Rivera took control of Spain in a bloodless coup tp prevent the collapse of the monarchy. He was to rule until 1930. -
Rivera ended the war
1924-1929: Rivera ended the war in Morocco and introduced public works schemes - roads,railways, irrigation schemes. Industrial production increased by threefold, Rivera suspended the Cortes (Parliament), trial by jury and freedom of speech / press. -
the Depression
1929-1932: The Depression hit Spain hard. Agricultural prices plummeted, Industrial production collapsed by up to 50%, Unemployment skyrocketed. -
Government Leader
The army withdrew its support and Rivera had to resign as government leader -
Four powerful body
1931-1933: these reforms Republican government angered the military, industrialists, landowners, The Catholic Church - the most powerfull elements of society. These four powerful bodies looked towards the Fascists for help against their Left-Wing goverment, and a new Spanish Fascist party ( the Falange ) was formed under Primo's son, Jose Antonio de Rivera. -
Left and Right Wing of the Republicans
Elections were held and Republicans won all the major cities in Spain. Alfonso abdicated to avoid civil war. Spain became a Republic. The goverment 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 -
Regions, Church, Army, Economy
1931- 1933: Regions: Catalonia received some self- government. The Church: Jesuit 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 (latifundia) were nationalised. -
General Sanjuro wion the elections
General Sanjuro led and 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 goverment - after all, it had won the elections fairly -
Left and Right
Republic offend the Right: A rectiionary political party was formed - the Ceda - determined to protect thr interests of the Roman Catholic Church and landlords. Repuclic offrnds the Left: Two powerful ;eft wing political parties, the anarchists and syndicalists ( powerful trade union groups), felt that Azana's government was too moderate. Both wantes the overthrow od capitialism -
Strikes and riots
The extreme left organised strikes and riots in an effort to destabilise the government of Azana. 25 people were killed br government troops who were attempting a great deal of support ammong the working class and the socialists withdrew their support from the government -
Two black years
Azana resigned as prime minister and elections were called; CEDA won a majority of support and formed a government led bt Gil Robles which held power for the reforms introduced by the Azana government. The Left - Wing parties joined together to form the Popular Front. They organised striked, riots and vandalism -
Heading the chaos
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 -
Out of control
A general election was called to restore order. The Left-Wing Popular Friond coalition won and Azana once again became prime minister. The Right-Wing formed a National Front coalition in reaction = more polarisation. The socialists withdrew their support from the Popular government in protest at its moderatiom. Public disturbances occoured soon started sporalling the country out of control -
The Murder
A leading right wing politician, Sotrlo, 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. -
The civil war is on
General Franco assumed control of the military, seized control of Spanish Morocco and crossed over into mainland Spain to take over the government. Tje Civil War had begun