Labor Unrest & Political Opposition in the Second Spanish Republic
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Labor Unrest and Social Conflicts During the Second Spanish Republic
The CNT and the Rise of Anarchism
Within the **Confederación Nacional del Trabajo** (CNT), unions faced two opposing factions. The first, more moderate, advocated for a purely trade unionist approach and showed some support for the Republic. The second, more radical, was characterized by an insurrectionist and revolutionary ideology. This faction saw the CNT in the Republic as an ideal opportunity for revolution and instigated labor conflicts through general strikes, peasant uprisings, and the establishment of libertarian communism. Strikes and land occupations progressively increased.
The Casas Viejas Uprising (1933)
Anarchists led a significant peasant uprising in Andalusia in 1933, known as the **Casas Viejas** incident. The insurgents aimed to take over the town hall, burn land registry and property records, and declare collectivized libertarian communism.
The General Strike in La Hermigua
In **La Hermigua**, workers staged a general strike because they were not given jobs related to road construction. The strike was organized along the entire road. Workers clashed with the police, throwing them down the road. They set fire to the road after erecting barriers made of palm trees and stones. Ultimately, numerous arrests were made, and statements were taken from anyone suspected of involvement.
Political Opposition to the Azaña Government
Monarchist and Right-Wing Groups
The main opponents of Manuel Azaña's government were former monarchists and certain sectors of the army. The former monarchists gradually drifted towards anti-democratic positions. New organizations emerged, such as **Acción Española** (Spanish Action), whose mission was to ideologically influence the right and advocate for the traditional Catholic monarchy as the sole defense against social revolution. Furthermore, nationalist and fascist factions like the **Juntas de Ofensiva Nacional-Sindicalista** (JONS), created in 1931, later joined the **Falange Española** (Spanish Falange), a party founded and led by **José Antonio Primo de Rivera**.
The Sanjurjo Coup Attempt (1932)
Some sectors of the army attempted to capitalize on the discontent generated among the more conservative groups of society. This discontent stemmed from the granting of autonomy to Catalonia, religious and military reforms, and the apparent alarm caused by strikes and civil unrest. Echoing this malaise, **General José Sanjurjo** staged a coup with the aim of forcing the Republic to shift to the right. However, the coup failed miserably.