Causes of the Spanish Civil War: Political, Economic, and Social Factors

The Spanish Civil War started on the seventeenth of July 1936. It was a civil war which got known as the dress practice for World War Two and influenced the further improvement of contention in Europe in the twentieth century. Over the span of this multi-year war, Spain endured around 500,000 casualties, making it probably the deadliest war in Spanish history. The immediate reasons for the Spanish civil war have been examined and debated for quite a long time, some believing it was inevitable, others contending it could have easily been avoided.

Political Instability and Ideological Differences

Right off the bat, the political instability introduced numerous issues and ideological differences within the country, continued the polarization of its population. Furthermore, the economic states of Spain where a desolate state was disintegrating under corruption, bygone custom of economic division existed, and lack of modernization and industrialization in the society as a whole. In conclusion, the social condition, one in which the church and the military exerted great influence over the people, frustrating change and presenting challenges for the new republic. These three issues, which can be sorted in both the long term and the short term, were quintessential for causing the beginning of the Spanish Civil War.

Economic and Cultural Shortcomings

Before major political polarization had started, Spain's government had already been experiencing administrative, economic, and cultural shortcomings. Since 1871, Spain had been a constitutional monarchy under a king, his appointed Prime Minister, and the Cortes. The military, which had a great influence over the government, was also extremely inefficient. Spain, as a largely agrarian economy, was overflowing with endemic poverty, hindering growth and industrialization. The economic division between the rich and the poor kept on expanding, and the poor's crave land continued.

The Great Depression and Unresolved Issues

In 1923, the government experienced a bloodless coup led by General Primo de Rivera who attempted the establishment of dictatorial rule to improve Spain's problematic situation. However, the great depression of the 1930s greatly affected Spain's economy, and large debt and further unsolved issues led to De Rivera's resignation. These events laid the long-term foundations for the war and were the unstable foundation from which Spain continued to operate in the next decade.

Political Dissension and Social Tension

According to the present moment, the primary driver of the war was the political dissension which fueled persistent conflict and tension in government and society. In April 1931, municipal elections were held which resulted in the establishment of the Second Republic under the center-left Manuel Azana. The new prime minister aimed to modernize Spain, but each new change was viewed as an attack on some form of the conservative movement. The critical economic situation was addressed by the land redistribution law implemented in 1932, with which some land was redistributed to try to reduce the economic gap inevitable in society.