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Long-term causes of the Spanish Civil War (Socio-political tensions (The…
Long-term causes of the Spanish Civil War
Political issues
-Elections rigged by corrupt Constitutional Monarchy
Two political parties, the Conservatives and the Liberals; very little difference
Power lies with wealthy oligarchs
Socio-political tensions
Catholic church backs the state in order to gain influence in education and economy
Promotes conservatism in all spheres and opposed liberal/modernizing forces
Aristocracy & upper classes make up the majority of senior clergy & provide funding to the church
The church was not as popular in urban areas
protests against the church for its connection to the aristocracy
Regionalism
State opposed the demands for autonomy in Catalonia and the Basque regions
these regions had separate languages, cultures, etc.
Spain's industry is concentrated here
Catalonia =textiles, iron, coal; Basque= shipbuilding
Protest & strikes are brutally suppressed. 1918-1921: 1,000 protesters killed in Barcelona alone
Economic Problems
Divisions between the rich & poor
Agricultural was the main source of employment; it was ineffective & seasonal- the majority of peasants lived in poverty
Frequent rioting between the peasants and groups like the 'Grandees' or landowners
These were crushed by the state's Civil Guard (paramilitary police force)
Lack of economic modernization
Workers in urban cities had a low standard of living (low wages, long hours, unregulated working conditions, poor housing)
led to the growth of trade unions
strikes were basically useless because of the influx of seasonal workers looking for work
Internal divisions based on political party lines
Political divisions
PSOE, led by Prieto
Anarchist (would not engage in any democratic processes; demanded revolution)
popular in the countryside due to their demand for land distribution
Anarchist trade unions were active in organizing strikes & protests
FAI (Spanish Anarchist Federation) carried out bombings and assassinations
UGT, led by Caballero