'The three great quarrels of region, class and church caused the Spanish Civil War.' Discuss.

The regional conflict was the second of the three major quarrels which led to the outbreak of a Civil War in 1936. As the class conflict had deeply angered the Latitifundistas who were afraid of losing their economic power, the regional conflict was one of the important reasons the military saw it as necessary to perform the coup in 1936 which eventually led to the Civil War. As a theme of discontent, regionalism had been a constant problem dating back four centuries prior to the Spanish Civil War. Both in the northern Basque region and in Catalonia, language and local traditions had set them apart from the rest of Spain and the central government was regarded with a special distrust. Naturally, Basque and Catalonian nationalism and their demands for autonomy led to violent conflict as the military, which saw it as their duty to keep Spain united, resisted these demands. This is why in 1919-23 alone, more then 700 political assassinations were committed in Catalonia alone. There for it was understandable the military and Nationalists were highly irritated when Catalonia was granted autonomy in August of 1931. Just as with the Second Republic’s social reforms, the regional conflict only deteriorate after the reforms with an attempted coup by José Sanjurjo in 1932, specifically in protest against the grant of Catalonian autonomy. Eventually, the regional quarrels comprised much of the violence and Hostility that led to the coup of 1936 and the outburst of the Spanish Civil War.

The quarrel over the role of the Church in Spain, was an additional problem that further led to division, violence and general discontent among the population. While the Nationalists were happy to keep the churches influence as it had been under the monarchy, the Republicans consisting of groups such as communists and anarchists were naturally bound to diminish the Churches powers. This led to fury and anger among the hard-line Nationalists when in 1931the Spanish Republic, which was directed by a progressive alliance of Republicans and Socialists, pursued its policies of anti-clericalism and separated the church from the state. This meant priests were no longer paid by the state and they lost a lot of their land. Later the Jesuits were also expelled from Spain and divorce was made legalized. However, the anti-clerical policies were not implemented without resistance, as when the Nationalist backed government came to power in 1933, many of the policies were reversed and the power of the church was partially restored, which then again angered the more left-wing Republicans in Andalusia and Catalonia who responded with violent attacks on churches and clergy, in the uprising in Asturias in 1934 and also later in 1936, when over 6,800 priests were murdered and numerous churches were destroyed as had happened in 1931 after the establishing of the Second Republic. Just like the class struggle and regional disputes had turned out into violent clashes between Republicans and Nationalists and Spain’s social classes and caused the polarization of Spanish politics. Once both of these had taken place, it was only a matter of time before a civil war would break out.

        There is however one last cause, the external factor, that led to the outbreak of war in 1936. Just as the Great Depression had influenced politics around the world during the 1930’s, the little industry that Spain had was also hit by the Depression. Iron and steel were especially hit as no one had the money to pay for the products. Iron production fell by 33% and steel by 50%. The was also much outside influence put into the build up of the Spanish Civil War, as the situation that was building up in Spain was almost a small scale model of what was happening across Europe. This is why in the short term it was due to the help of Hitler and Mussolini, who helped Franco’s Army of Africa cross over into Spain, and allow the coup was  to take occur in the first place. If the Army of Africa had not been involved the coup might have totally failed and not have led to the breakout of a civil war.

         Though the three major quarrels between class, region and church were the major reasons for the Spanish Civil War of 1936 one must certainly not forget the role the outside influences played in the buildup towards war. Nevertheless, the three quarrels created such intense hostility and division between the Nationalist and Republican side that by 1936 a civil war seemed like the only solution to the ever growing problem. The polarization of politics by 1936 had destroyed nearly all of the center parties can be traced directly back to the three quarrels over class, region and church. While the quarrels over class and region greatly angered the Latitifundistas and military the attack on the church outraged the clergy and church supporters. It was then finally when all three joined forces to overthrow the Republic, the Spanish Civil War was born.