SPAIN 1900-1939

INDEX

• The Spanish situation at the beginning of the 20th century

• Economy and society in Spain.

• The reign of Alfonso XIII (1900-1931)

• The dictatorship of Primo de Rivera (1923-1931)

• The Second Republic (1931-1936)

• The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)

THE SPANISH SITUATION AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 20TH CENTURY

• Spain confronted many problems in the

turning of the century:

– The failure of the political system (“turnismo”).

– The problem of the “caciquismo”.

– The political opposition.

– The economic backwardness.

ECONOMY AND SOCIETY IN SPAIN

• Spanish economy was based in agriculture.

• Some Spanish regions developed industries, such as Catalonia (textiles) and Basque Country (iron and steel industry).

• The high tariffs protected Spanish industry, but avoided foreign investments.

• Trade was scarce.

ECONOMY AND SOCIETY IN SPAIN

• Spanish population raised from 19 to 24 million between 1900 and 1930.

• Many had to emigrate:

– From the countryside to towns.

– From Spain to Latin America (most were from Galicia).

• There was a huge inequality between rich and poor people.

THE REIGN OF ALFONSO XIII

• When Alfonso XIII became king in 1902, he was confronted with a series of political, social and colonial problems.

• All these issues would eventually bring about the fall of the monarchy.

Political opposition

• The political system consisted on the alternating of Liberal and Conservative governments (“turnismo”).

Political opposition

• However, other political options were gaining support:

– The Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE).

– The republican parties, such as the Radical Republican Party (PRR).

– The Spanish Communist Party (PCE, 1921).

– Regionalist parties (Basque Nationalist Party, PNV; Regionalist League of Cataluña (the Lliga).

Social conflicts

• During the reign of Alfonso XIII, workers continued to demand better working conditions through demonstrations and strikes.

• Trade Unions such as the UGT (socialist) and the CNT (anarchist) achieved some important advances.

Social conflicts

• Both UGT and CNT achieved advances such as:

– Legal recognition for trade unions.

– An eight-hour working day and a six-day working week.

– The establishment of the pension system for retired workers.

– New laws to regulate female and child labour.

Social conflicts: the crisis of 1917

• Spain did not participate in the First World War.

• Spain supplied the countries fighting the war.

• The inequality between profits for some and bad working conditions for many led to a crisis in 1917.

• Tensions amongst right- and left-wing grew up due to the Russian Revolution.

Colonial problems

• After the Disaster of ‘98, Spain tried to get new colonies in North Africa.

• Its aim was to rebuild its empire and regain international prestige.

• This imperialism created new problems:

– The Tragic Week (1909).

– The Moroccan War (1920-1926).

Colonial problems: the Tragic Week (1909)

• When Spanish reservists were sent to fight in Morocco in 1909, there were protests in Barcelona led by workers and the families of soldiers.

• These protests were brutally suppressed by the army.

Barcelona, 1909

Barcelona, 1909

Colonial problems: the Moroccan problem

• In 1912, Spain established a protectorate over a part of Morocco.

• However, the presence of foreign troops provoked oppositin from the native population of northern Morocco.

• This led to the outbreak of the Rif War (1920-1926).

• Spain suffered a great disaster at the 1921 Battle of Annual (14,000 killed and POW).

The Spanish protectorate in Morocco

THE DICTATORSHIP OF PRIMO DE RIVERA

• In 1923, General Miguel Primo de Rivera had led a military coup against the Spanish government.

• He dissolved the parliament and suspended the Constitution.

• Conservatives, the Catholic Church and the Army supported the coup.

• The example of Mussolini in Italy helped to the idea that only a dictatorship could solve the problems of the country.

THE DICTATORSHIP OF PRIMO DE RIVERA

• At first, Primo de Rivera imitated Mussolini’s regime:

– Investments in public works and industry.

– A one-party system (Patriotic Union).

• More troops were sent to Morocco and in 1926 Spain declared victory in the Rif War (Alhucemas landing).

The Alhucemas landing, 1926

THE DICTATORSHIP OF PRIMO DE RIVERA

• From 1928 onwards, Primo de Rivera faced growing opposition.

• He lost popularity.

• After 1929 (Great Depression), economic and political situation deteriorated in Spain.

• Alfonso XIII withdrew his support to the dictator.

• In 1930, Primo de Rivera resigned.

THE SECOND REPUBLIC

• In April 1931 there were municipal elections. Socialists and republicans won in most of cities.

• Alfonso XIII went into exile.

• The Second Republic was born.

THE SECOND REPUBLIC

• In June, there was a general election. Once again, socialists and republicans won.

• They formed a coalition government, with Manuel Azaña as its Prime Minister and Alcalá Zamora as President of the Republic.

• In December 1931, a new Constitution was approved.

The Constitution of 1931

SOVEREIGNTY Popular, national

SEPARATION OF POWERS L= Parliament; E=Government;

J= Courts.

SUFFRAGE Universal for men and women.

RIGHTS AND LIBERTIES Freedom of speech, right to education, right to divorce.

RELIGION

Freedom of religion; end to subsidies for the clergy;

separation of the state and Church.

THE SECOND REPUBLIC

• The Second Republic is divided into three periods:

– Reformist biennium (Dec 1931 – Nov 1933)

– Conservative biennium (Nov 1933 – Feb 1936)

– The Popular Front government (Feb – Jul 1936)

Reformist biennium

• Territorial reforms: statute of autonomy for Catalonia.

• Land reform: expropiations to give away land to the poors.

• Educational reforms: public, free and compulsory education. Religious schools and teaching was banned.

• Labour reforms: new laws (40 hours/week, higher wages…)

• Military reforms: the number of officers was reduced.

Reformist biennium

• These reforms angered big landowners, as well as many ordinary Catholics.

• In 1932, General Sanjurjo attempted a coup against the government.

• The coup failed, Sanjurjo was imprisoned.

Reformist biennium

• Left-wing groups were also unhappy.

• Anarchists wanted more radical changes in society.

• Peasants were disappointed with the failure of the agricultural reforms.

• The Casas Viejas Massacre (1933) forced the government to hold a new election.

Conservative biennium

• Right-wing parties were united to the election (CEDA).

• The Radical Republican Party of Alejandro Lerroux formed a government.

• In October 1934, the CEDA joined the government.

• Many right-wing groups saw that, together with the rise to power of Hitler in Germany, as a threat to the Republic.

Conservative biennium

• These groups organized a general strike, with high success in Asturias and Catalonia.

Conservative biennium

• In October 1935, Lerroux resigned due to a corruptin scandal.

• A new election was held in February 1936.

• This time, the centrist and left-wing parties were united, in the Popular Front.

• They won, by a very small margin.

The Popular Front government

• A coalition of centrist- and left-wing parties won the election of February.

• The new government tried to continue implementing the reforms.

• However, there were increasing numbers of protests and violent clashes between Falangists, Socialists, Anarchists and Communists.

THE START OF THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR

• In July 1936, a decisive event took place: part of the military rose up against the government.

• This uprising against the Second Republic triggered the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War (SCW).

TIMELINE - July 1936

• July 12th, 1936 – José del Castillo, Assault Guard, assassinated by a group of falangists.

• July 13th, 1936 – A group of left-wing people tricked José Calvo Sotelo (leader of Renovación Española) and assassinated him.

• July 17th, 1936 – Generals Sanjurjo, Mola and Franco led a coup against the government.

• July 20th, 1936 – Sanjurjo dies in air accident.

Situation on July 1936

SCW: INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT

• Hitler and Mussolini supported the coup.

• France, UK, Germany and Italy signed up the Non-Intervention Pact.

• Germany sent the Condor Legion.

• Italy sent the Corpo di Truppe Volontarie (CTV).

• Portugal helped the rebels. Irish volunteers fought in Franco’s side.

SCW: INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT

• Many volunteeres also joined International Brigades to fight for the Republicans.

• Organized and recruited by communist parties (not all were communists).

• International Brigades played a big role in the defence of Madrid.

• In 1938 they were withdrawn from Spain.

LIFE DURING THE WAR - Madrid

• During the war, Madrid was in the Republican zone, but it was under siege from the Rebels. This made life in the city very difficult.

• There were bombing raids by Condor Legion, and frequent artillery attacks. These often targeted civilian areas.

• There was no fuel for heating or vehicles, and food was rationed.

LIFE DURING THE WAR - Madrid • The rations were so small that many people were

starving. In spite of this, most people in Madrid continued to resist the Rebels.

• Their slogan was: “No pasarán”.

• Many famous foreign journalists and writers visited the city during the war, including Ernest Hemingway, Martha Gellhorn and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

• Their reports on the hardship of life in Madrid created a lot of sympathy for Madrid and the Republicans around the world.

THE PROGRESSION OF THE WAR

• 1936-1937: The Battle of Madrid.

• 1937-1938: Offensive in Northern of Spain.

• 1938-1939: The Francoist victory.

1936-1937

1937-1938

Guernica, Picasso (1937)

1938-1939

FAMOUS PICTURES OF MILITIANS

PROPAGANDA

THE END By Daniel Quijano Ramos

Geography and History teacher

IES Puerta de la Axarquía