Origins and Causes of Wars
• Long-term Causes
The Spanish Civil War was a culmination of the internal civil unrest of Spain. Spain was divided by various groups with extreme beliefs from Fascism to “militant anarchism”. These groups provided the basis for societal unrest, as extremists clashed heads in opposing ideals. Poverty was also a striking aspect of the unrest, as poor masses were neglected by the Catholic Church that found identity with “wealthy landowners than with the Spanish People” (Spanish). To add insult to injury, the Catholic Church, who was responsible for providing education, withheld it from women and peasants, deeming it a danger for the masses to be literate (Spanish). Riots ensued, ending many lives, rather than destruction …show more content…
In defense, the Republicans worked to guard Madrid from Nationalist hands and stabilize fronts. Madrid was kept in Republican possession for three years; most industrial areas were under Republican control during this time, as Nationalists held most areas of food production (Solsten). The Republic did not possess a well trained army, and therefore received aid from Russia and the United States in the form of “advisors…and field grade officers”, and the International Brigade. The Nationalists however, did possess an army, which consisted of mainly Moroccan troops and “battalions…Franco had commanded in Africa” …show more content…
A small Spanish communist group seized its chance to overthrow POUM, another internal group that it severely disliked, by murdering its leader Nin. This action was deemed necessary for the government to be of one accord and of one mind, to focus its attention solely on the war effort (Nelson). However, opposite to what was intended, the violent acts committed within the Popular Front led to a breaking down of spirits among the resistors in Catalonia (Nelson). Another dissension occurred within the Republican forces, as the majority advocated to fight to protect “republican institutions” and a minority of communists advocated to finish the Civil War first and foremost
• Long-term Causes
The Spanish Civil War was a culmination of the internal civil unrest of Spain. Spain was divided by various groups with extreme beliefs from Fascism to “militant anarchism”. These groups provided the basis for societal unrest, as extremists clashed heads in opposing ideals. Poverty was also a striking aspect of the unrest, as poor masses were neglected by the Catholic Church that found identity with “wealthy landowners than with the Spanish People” (Spanish). To add insult to injury, the Catholic Church, who was responsible for providing education, withheld it from women and peasants, deeming it a danger for the masses to be literate (Spanish). Riots ensued, ending many lives, rather than destruction …show more content…
In defense, the Republicans worked to guard Madrid from Nationalist hands and stabilize fronts. Madrid was kept in Republican possession for three years; most industrial areas were under Republican control during this time, as Nationalists held most areas of food production (Solsten). The Republic did not possess a well trained army, and therefore received aid from Russia and the United States in the form of “advisors…and field grade officers”, and the International Brigade. The Nationalists however, did possess an army, which consisted of mainly Moroccan troops and “battalions…Franco had commanded in Africa” …show more content…
A small Spanish communist group seized its chance to overthrow POUM, another internal group that it severely disliked, by murdering its leader Nin. This action was deemed necessary for the government to be of one accord and of one mind, to focus its attention solely on the war effort (Nelson). However, opposite to what was intended, the violent acts committed within the Popular Front led to a breaking down of spirits among the resistors in Catalonia (Nelson). Another dissension occurred within the Republican forces, as the majority advocated to fight to protect “republican institutions” and a minority of communists advocated to finish the Civil War first and foremost