Spanish History: From the 1917 Crisis to the Civil War
Social Sectors in the 1917 Protest
Three social sectors coincided in the protest of 1917:
- The opposition forces.
- Military groups.
- Unions: Specifically the CNT and UGT.
Establishment of the Primo de Rivera Dictatorship
Miguel Primo de Rivera established his dictatorship with the support of the King and various political groups. To consolidate power, the following steps were taken:
- All political positions were removed.
- Censorship was implemented (blaming the books).
- The Constitution was abolished.
The Advent of the Second Republic
Municipal elections were held on April 12, 1931. The opposition to the monarchy formed an alliance to stand for election, while the monarchist parties presented themselves separately. The Republican-Socialist coalition achieved victory in large cities and industrial regions.
King Alfonso XIII suspended royal power on April 14, 1931, and a republic was proclaimed. The provisional government was formed by Republicans, Socialists, and Catalan parties.
The Popular Front and Its Rise to Power
The center-left forces appeared grouped in the Popular Front. Its program consisted of major reforms to restore Republican values and secure amnesty for those repressed in 1934.
The July 1936 Military Uprising and Civil War
Between July 17 and 18, 1936, an important sector of the army, with support from traditionalists and Falangists, staged a coup. The part of Spain faithful to the Republic stifled the uprising in Madrid, Catalonia, and the most industrialized areas of the Basque Country and Asturias. Consequently, Spain remained divided into two zones, leading to the Civil War.
Republican Divisions and Internal Conflicts
Military failures of the Republic prompted division within the Republican forces. Republicans, Communists, and Socialists defended the need to freeze the revolutionary process to prioritize the war effort. Conversely, Anarchists and Trotskyists opposed certain government measures, leading to the May 1937 conflict in Barcelona.
Characteristics of the 1931 Constitution
- Recognized universal suffrage.
- Claimed the secular nature (aconfesionalidad) of the state.
- Established extensive public and private freedoms.
- Legislative power resided in the Cortes, while executive power was held by the Cabinet and the President.