Effects of Spanish Civil War

Alex Maher
What were the effect of the Spanish Civil War?

Prior to the war, Spain had been in the process of creating a state in accordance
with left-wing ideals, however the experience of the civil war not only disrupted this
process but also resulted very right-wing ideals. The effects of the war can be
summarized into three main factors, social, political and economical but is difficult to
generalize due to different experiences in the Nationalist and Republican zones.
Social:
The social impact of the war was very substantial, casualties were high and the
legacy of bitterness and mistrust between the sides was long lasting.
The estimates for the casualties killed during, and those in the immediate postwar repression vary between 350, 000 and 500, 000, a devastating 2% of Spain
population. Several hundred permanently wounded.
Nationalists wounded were given preferential access to jobs, there was no special
provisions or pensions for those fighting for the republic, perpetuating divisions
in Spain.
This all inspired around 400, 000 people to flee Spain out of fear and desperation,
where of 250, 000 permanently remained outside the country.
Another essential social effect was that on the women, who were forced to
conform to traditional roles such as housewives and mothers, it was the Catholic
Church who had the prominent role in reinforcing this model (dress and
appearance ideals).
Even with the increased needs of the war economy the womens participation in
the war effort remained largely confined to traditional roles of food preparation,
and health services all of which pay for was discouraged by the Labor Charter
passed in March 1938.
Finally in terms of social religious impacts divorce, civil marriage, and mixedgendered classrooms was prohibited, where the education of girls focused on
domestic work and motherhood.
Economic:
Political:
The war resulted in the destruction of homes, businesses, agricultural land

and industry.
Consequently they also emerged from the war less cable of rebuilding and
economic recovery.
The aerial bombardments reduced many towns to rubble and Spains
industrial infrastructure was severely damaged. Industrial production by
1939 was only 25% of the 1929 levels, only half of railway stock
remained operational and livestock numbers were 33% less than pre-war
figures.
In addition, the Republican government had spent the Spanish gold
reserves in payment of Soviet supplies, and the Nationalist had
accumulated a debt of $700 million for war goods.
This was paid of in the form of food shipment and other raw materials,
which further drained the Spanish economy, and repayments to Italy
continued all the way into the 1960s. The combination of the annihilation
of the industrial and agricultural production along with losing over half a
million men and women labor force, the regeneration of the economy was
extremely slow and painful.
Alex Maher
What were the effect of the Spanish Civil War?
The political consequences of the war resulted in Franco establishing a

right wing, conservative dictatorship that lasted until 1975 with Francos
death.
This government promoted Franco as a savior of the nation, almost
creating a cult of personality. It emphasized nationalism and completely
ended regional autonomy, and also encouraged economic self-sufficiency.
The churchs power was re-established, with the promotion of
conservative attitudes and policies towards women and family structures.
The political power rested not in Francos power as a leader but in the
power of the army, which persecuted and executed excessively in a postwar terror campaign, which resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths
and imprisonments furthering dividing society.
Conversely, the impact on international politics was more limited, as
many of the European powers has limited their involvement and Spain
remained on the periphery, as they were more concerned with an
increasingly assertive Germany.
In conclusion Spain emerged from the war exhausted, divided and destroyed by
long years on conflict. In some ways however, it was the Republican Spain that was the
aberration and Francos Spain displayed continuity with a more traditional Spain, in
which the Catholic Church was accorded a prominent place.

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Alex Maher

What were the effect of the Spanish Civil War?

The war resulted in the destruction of homes, businesses, agricultural land

The political consequences of the war resulted in Franco establishing a

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