Causes and Consequences of the Spanish Civil War

Long-term Causes (Before the Second Republic)

• Political instability: Some regions demanded autonomy; the army held excessive power; frequent government changes occurred.
• Social issues: The Church maintained significant influence; privileged classes opposed modernization; high illiteracy rates persisted.
• Economic inequalities: An economy based on inefficient agriculture; late industrialization; a vast gap between the rich and the poor.

Short-term Causes (During the Second Republic)

• Republican Reforms:
  • Universal suffrage
  • Land reform
  • Separation of Church and State
  • Universal education
  • Autonomy for Catalonia and the Basque Country
  • Improvement of social services
• Reactions to the Reforms:
  • Supporters: Republicans, socialists, workers, and Catalan and Basque nationalists.
  • Opponents: Right-wing groups, upper-middle classes, the Falange, and the Church.
• Trigger Event:
  • After the Popular Front won the elections, the military, led by Francisco Franco, staged a coup d’état, initiating the Civil War (July 17-18, 1936).

Republican Side

• Republicans, socialists, anarchists, Catalan and Basque nationalists, the Popular Front, and the working class.
• International Support: Soviet Union, International Brigades.

Nationalist Side

• Military rebels, Falange, Church, upper classes, CEDA, and Carlists.
• International Support: Italy, Germany.

Key Events of the Spanish Civil War

• Military Coup (July 17-18, 1936): Spain was divided into two sides.
• Battle of Madrid (1936-1939): Republicans defended Madrid with international brigades. Slogan: "¡No pasarán!".
• Franco appointed Caudillo (October 1, 1936) in Burgos.
• Creation of the Basque Government and Eusko Gudariak (October 7, 1936): Led by José Antonio Aguirre; includes the Eusko Gudariak song.
• Northern War (1937): Nationalists took control; Guernica bombing; Gernika (painting); Bilboko Burdin Hesia.
• Battle of the Ebro (July 1938): The bloodiest battle; the Republican army was nearly destroyed; Ay Carmela; El Paso del Ebro.
• End of the war (April 1, 1939): Nationalists took Madrid; Franco’s dictatorship began; Republicans were killed, others were sent to forced labor camps.

Social Consequences

• Atrocities committed on both sides.
• Brutal repression following Franco’s victory.
• Exiles, disappearances, imprisonment, and concentration camps.

Economic Consequences

• Spain’s economy was devastated.
• Cities and infrastructure were destroyed.

Political Consequences

• Franco’s dictatorship began.
• All Republican reforms were abolished.