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Long term causes of the Spanish Civil War (Economic problems (Spain was…
Long term causes of the Spanish Civil War
Political divisions
There was a Liberal movement in Spain which consisted of educated middle class workers that lasted throughout the 1920
The anarchists were major political group in Spain. This group was very popular in the countryside due to their demand of land
The moderate Socialists were led by Indalecio Prieto, while the more radical groups were led by Largo Caballero
The trade union, UGT, was active
In the late 19th century the Partido Socialista Obrero Espanol (PSOE; Spanish Socialist Party) had developed in urban areas, but had a limited impact
The anarchists trade union were active in organizing strikes and protests.
An extremist group called the Federacion Anarquista Iberica (FAI; Spanish Anarchist Federation) carried out bombings and assassinations
Economic problems
Spain was primarily an agricultural economy and agriculture labor was the main source of employment
Rural workers had to migrate to find work and the majority lived in grueling poverty
The latifundia, owned by the Grandees. This elite group also dominated the political system
Peasants owned small plots of land. The stark divisions between the rich and poor in the countryside led to frequent riots
The anarchists demanded the redistribution of land
The urban workers had no political power
Regionalism
Regionalism was a significant underlying cause of political tension
There were economic strains between the regions and the central government.
The Catalans and the Basques had separate languages and cultures, independent churches and by the early 20th century
Political protests and strikes were met with brutal state suppression. Between 1918 and 1921, 1000 people were killed in protests in Barcelona
The centralist state opposed the demands for autonomy from Catalonia and the Basque regions, which wanted decentralization and independence
Spain's key industries were concentrated in Catalan and Basque regions
Socio-political tensions
The church had used its wealth to gain considerable political and social influence. The church promoted social, political, and economic conservatism and it was opposed to liberal and modernizing forces
The wealth and power of the Catholic Church led to disputes between church and state throughout the 19th century
The aristocracy and upper classes had close ties to the church as they provided much of the church's funding
There were protest against the church, the educated middle class wanted to limit the church's power, specifically its control over education
Political issues
There were two main parties, the Conservatives and the Liberals, but the difference between the parties was limited
Elections were usually rigged or decided by corruption. Spain had no mass democratic political parties
Real power remained in the hands of the wealthy oligarchs and political control merely shifted between different powerful cliques
The army retained a powerful position due to its role in Spain's imperial past and saw itself as the proctor of the nation
Army hated by the people, great brutality to the people and citizens were forced to pay high taxation