uprisings

• casavejas massacre - jan 1933

  • anarchist uprising in city of Cadiz
  • highlighted impatience towards reforms
  • civil guard dealt violently with all 25 rebels
  • gov blamed for the violence , left = feared
• the agricultural workers in the casavejas uprising were very poor and had to live in mud huts , they did the revolt peacefully to end poverty
• asturias uprising - 1934 , committed by range of left wing unions
• reasons for asturias uprising:

  • entry of 5 conservative ministers from catholic CEDA party into gov - would destroy republic
  • CEDA membership considered facist threat by working class
  • great depression had radicalised workers
• key events of Asturias uprising :

  • began October 4th ,attacks on local miners
  • miners captured several towns
  • workers captured most of region , declared workers republic
• 58 churches burnt down during Asturias uprising , 31 right wing supporters and clergymen murdered
• suppression of Astuarias uprsing:

  • gov sent spanish army (led by Franco) , over 2,000 troops sent to fight in the region
  • miners killed by army , villages bombed and burned to ground
  • fighting lasted 2 weeks , rape and murder of civilians in mining villages
  • workers surrendered on oct 19th
• aftermath of Astuarias uprising:

  • gov suspended catalan autonomy
  • 3,000 injured
  • 1,400 killed
  • imprisioned socialists
  • weakened trade unions , thousands of members lost their jobs
• consequences for left Asuatiras uprising:

  • showed how working class could take control and run society in an efficient manner
  • showed what left could really do
  • need to win power by democratic means
  • engaging in democracy more difficult for left as they thought democracy was restricted
• consequences for right astuarias uprising:

  • middle class moved to right , feared left would become too radical
  • CEDA members = more extreme political beliefs
  • CEDA pushed for more influence
  • enforced how the right was backed by the army
  • franco = strong leader to upper , middle classes
• future of spain after Asturias uprising:

  • both left and right wanted to obtain power
  • GIL-Robles = begins military prep in anticipation of major conflict
  • seen as 'prelude' to civil war
• things Gil-Robles did to prepare for future conflict:

  • appointed Franco and Fanjul (associated with groups to overthrow republic)
  • franco and Fanjul purged army of officers who supported republic - replaced by fascist sympathisers to nationalists
• more supported the right after the Asturias uprising as Spanish right wing media spread alleged atrocities committed by the left such as raping of nuns
• right used Asturias uprising to push for the CEDA to gain more influence
• after Asturias uprising , popular front was formed - won by 48%