Spanish History: From the Annual Disaster to Civil War

1. The Annual Disaster and Primo de Rivera

• a) What happened in Annual in 1921? The Spanish Army was defeated by the Berbers.
• b) Who came to power in the aftermath? Miguel Primo de Rivera.

2. Measures Implemented by Primo de Rivera

He prohibited political parties, suspended the Constitution, reduced freedoms, and suppressed the Catalan Commonwealth.

3. Economic Impact of the 1929 Crash

• a) Why did the economic crash not affect Spain as profoundly as other countries? Because of Spain's strong protectionist policies.
• b) What products were less available after the crash? Citrus fruits.

4. The Reformist Biennium

• Military: Retirement Law, reassignment of military officials.
• Religious: Secular education.
• Territorial: Statutes of autonomy.
• Agrarian: Large estates were expropriated and distributed among poor peasants.

5. Republican Symbols

• a) What does the flag represent? The Republican flag.
• b) What Republican principles are listed on the shield? The French revolutionary principles.
• c) The woman is holding scales. What do they represent? Justice.
• d) What other objects can you see? Lion, ship, and plane (representing strength, industry, and agriculture).

6. Governance and Suffrage

• a) Was the Spanish Republic secular or religious? Secular.
• b) How was the Congress of Deputies chosen? Universal (male and female) suffrage.

7. Vocabulary Exercise

Biennium, Popular Front, coup, North Africa.

8. Political Interpretations

• a) A Marxist is destroying a factory.
• b) If the Popular Front governed, there would be an amnesty.

9. International Context of the 1930s

• a) In what international context can we place Spain's crisis in the 1930s? Polarization between the left (communism) and the right (fascism).
• b) Who do the caricatures represent? The Army, the Church, and fascists (industrialists or businessmen).

10. Historical Corrections

a) USA - USSR. b) Most of the Republican coalition wanted to concentrate on winning the war, while more radical groups... - True.

11. Territorial Control

• a) The rebels controlled Seville, North Africa, Northern Spain, etc.
• b) The Republicans lost control of Extremadura, the Cantabrian coast, Catalonia, etc.

12. Key Definitions

• International Brigades: Volunteers from all over the world.
• Popular Front: Coalition formed by left-wing Republicans.
• Republicans: Loyal to the legitimate government.
• Reformist Biennium: 1931-1933.
• Problem of land ownership: There were thousands of landless peasants.
• Militias: Voluntary civilian forces.
• Nationalists: Francoists.
• Non-intervention Committee: Committee formed by France and Britain.
• Conservative Biennium: 1933-1935.
• Negrín: He formed a government with the support of the communists.
• Alcalá Zamora: He was elected Prime Minister in April 1931.
• Franco: He took leadership of the new state.
• Lerroux: He was the leader of the Radical Party and Prime Minister in 1932.
• Largo Caballero: He created a government in September 1936.