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• 1933 - CEDA took over

  1934 - facism on the rise
• who were the main political groups in 1930s Spain?


  • Anarchists
  • Socialism
  • Republicans
  • Conversatives
• Anarchists


  believed in abolishment of capitalism and the government - scared conservatives and elities
• Socialists


  consisted of all workers , wanted democracy and protected individual rights. Wanted socialist country
• Republicans


  wanted to replace monarchy with democratic Spain , modernise Spain. Supported by middle classes and intellectuals
• Conservative elities

  landowners and catholic church thought reform was a threat to Spanish culture , opposed democracy and greater inequality. Feared democracy would include workers and wouldn't suppress radicals
• how did the right respond to the Second Republics reforms?

  • saw reforms as a threat to religion and tradition
  • Landowners refused to follow reforms
  • Agro of Salamanca encouraged landowners to not grow crops of land - gov arrested them
  • Salamanca land uncultivated from 1932-33
  • Creation of CEDA
• how did the left respond to the Second Republics Reforms?

  • many believed reforms were too bourgeoisie to create radical change
  • UGT , CNT initiated strikes due to slow pace of change (1931 dock strike killed 8 people)
  • telephone strike in 1931 divided the left as CNT ordered a strike - lead to violence with police
• who were the CEDA?

  united right wing group that would capitalise on discontent caused by reforms.

  • created by Gil-Robles
  • aimed to defend catholicism , property rights and unity of Spain
  • supported by landowners
• why did Alcara Zamora want to keep CEDA out of the government?

  • they refused to take oath of loyalty to Republic
  • would turn Spain into dictatorship
  • 1934 - Cabello threatened revolution if CEDA entered government
• how did the 1933 election change the make-up of the new government?

  • CEDA - 115 deputies (largest party in Cortes
  • Radical Republicans - 104 deputies
  • PSOE (socialists) - 58 deputies
• why did the CEDA enter government?

  • Gil-Robles refused to give support to government if they weren't allowed in = killed gov
  • Zamora allowed 3 CEDA ministries - labour , agriculture , justice
• how did the new government reverse the reforms of 1931-33?

  • attacked laws that entrenched workers rights (wages fell)
  • reversed land reforms - landowners could take back confiscated land , peasants could be evicted
  • Leurouex refused to enforce church reforms
• what was the reaction from the left about the reversal of reforms?


  • FNTT organised general strike , Lerroux organised civil guards to crush strike
  • PSOE promised to start revolution
• why did the 1933 election lead to political polarisation?

  • radicalised left
  • failure of democracy to deliver reforms = abandoned democracy and embrace revolution
• when was the Asturias Uprising?

  1934
• impact of Asturias Uprising on the Left

  • killed 1,000 revolutionaries , whole villages burned
  • members of trade unions fired
  • Catalonia autonomy suspended
  • thousands of left wing activists arrested
  • united left against government
• impact of the Asturias Uprising on the Right

  • middle class worried by uprising
  • Spanish media sensationalised alleged atrocities committed by left e.g raping of nuns
  • middle class supported right wingers , hoping they'd defend property
  • Youth of Popular Action adopted fascist symbols , military uniform
• why was the Popular Front created?

  • Azana argued that left wing groups should work together to protect democracy
• what percentage of votes did the Popular Front win in 1936?

  48%
• what policies did the Popular Front introduce?

  • restoration of Catalan autonomy
  • brought back military and agricultural reforms
  • beginnings of legislation to Basque country
• how did the Right react to Popular Front policies?

  • saw reforms as an attack on the nation
  • extreme right wing groups increased membership - Falange had 40,000 members by 1936
  • May 1936 = Largo Caballero's house attacked
  • put pressure on PM to proclaim Martial Law + declare Feb elections invalid
• what unrest occurred on the left due to Popular Front failures?

  • FNTT encouraged peasants to illegally occupy land
  • 60,000 peasants seized 3,000 farms in Extremadura (Azana legalised)
  • PSOE refused to participate in cabinet , supporters refused Prieto's appointment as Prime Minister (left divded)
  • Azana = president
  • CNT organised strikes against low wages , resulted in violent clashes between Falange and workers
• how did the Right react to left wing unrest over failure of Popular Front policies?

  • fear of Marxist Revolt = excuse to gain support
  • Gil-Robles said right wing uprising was only way to save Spain
  • Gil-Robles said there were 300 strikes , 269 murders = created panic
  • worked with Army and Falange to form new authoritarian gov
  • May 1936 = Gil-Robles abandons democracy
  • Robles gives CEDA electoral funds to head of military conspiracy , General Mola
• when was Jose Calvo Sotelo murdered?

  1936
• why was Sotelo's murder an important step on the way to the July 1936 coup?

  • Gil-Robles blamed the government for his murder
  • middle classes began to believe that the government was murdering own citizens or lost control of country
  • General Mola wanted to launch coup against government , murder was the first step to launch a Marxist Revolution
  • Franco believed him
  • Right began to overthrow government
• who supported the July 1936 coup?


  rebelling members of the army , Carlists , Falange , CEDA and middle classes
• why did the 1936 coup not succeed?


  • left quickly mobilised , resisting coup
  • unions changed into militias with many civilians prepared to fight to defend republic