Spain’s Agrarian Problem: Second Republic Political History
The Agrarian Problem in Spain: Historical Context
This document, likely a political-economic-social analysis, illustrates the economic and social situation of society and the emergence of new policies. Dating from 1939, it is a secondary source, published six years after the events it describes.
The core subject is The Agrarian Problem. A law on agrarian reform was created for three main reasons:
- Spain remained a country of low agricultural yields.
- Fifty percent of the active population was rural.
- Southern
Bolshevik Legacy: Global Revolutions and Soviet Economic Policy
The Global Impact of the Russian Revolution
Failed Revolutions Outside Russia
The Bolsheviks anticipated a Europe-wide revolution, supported by workers weary of the protracted World War. Its impact was universal among all types of workers. Rumors that Russia was forming a state of workers and peasants influenced a series of military revolts and strike waves.
- Waves of strikes swept through Spain, France, and Italy. Unions in Italy even occupied factories.
- After obtaining some legal reforms, such as the
Spain 1936: Popular Front and the Road to Civil War
The Popular Front Government: February-July 1936
Government Formation and Initial Policies
Between February and July 1936, the Spanish political landscape saw significant shifts. Governments were formed exclusively by Republicans, led first by Manuel Azaña, and from May, by Santiago Casares Quiroga. During this period, Azaña also replaced Niceto Alcalá-Zamora as President of the Republic. The marginalization of more moderate political figures alarmed the public.
Key Political Decisions
- Granting of
Spain’s Liberal Triennium: Constitutional Reforms and Absolutist Opposition
The Liberal Triennium (1820-1823): Colonel Rafael del Riego led a revolt with his soldiers, touring Andalusia and proclaiming the Constitution of 1812. The passivity and neutrality of the army of peasants forced the king to accept becoming constitutional. Fernando VII appointed a new government, proclaimed an amnesty, and convened elections. The Cortes were formed with a majority of Liberal MPs and began significant legislative work. Reforms such as freedom of industry and the abolition of guilds
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Roots of National Socialism
After the First World War, the harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles (1919) fueled a German desire for revenge against France. The instability and exhaustion following the treaty facilitated the rise of National Socialism to power. This was due to two primary causes that occurred in the post-war period:
Excessive Harshness of the Versailles Treaty:
Territorial losses, heavy economic reparations for the war, and the fact that leaders of the new Weimar Republic were blamed
Francoist Spain: State Formation and Ideology
Ideological Foundations of the Franco Regime
On April 1, 1939, Franco declared the end of the Civil War. His victory paved the way for the establishment of a new state. The government formed on August 8, 1939, aligned with the regime’s ideological tendencies, undertook the task of consolidating the state, adapting to its evolving needs.
Basic Laws of the Francoist State
Lacking a formal constitution, this system was equipped with *Basic Laws* (also known as *Fundamental Laws*):
- The Constitutive Act