The Spanish civil war was sometimes referred to as the “dress rehearsal” of the Second World War since it involved threats of fascism and aggression against the entire world. Explain.
The American Civil War was a four-year war (1861–65) between the United States and 11 Southern states that seceded from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America. The secession of the Southern states in 1860–61 and the ensuing outbreak of armed hostilities was the culmination of decadesRead more
The American Civil War was a four-year war (1861–65) between the United States and 11 Southern states that seceded from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America. The secession of the Southern states in 1860–61 and the ensuing outbreak of armed hostilities was the culmination of decades of growing sectional friction in American society.
Sectional Disharmony As Cause Of Civil War
The Northern and Southern sections of the United States developed along different lines. The South remained a predominantly agrarian economy while the North became more and more industrialized. Different social cultures and political beliefs developed. All of this led to disagreements on issues such as taxes, tariffs and internal improvements as well as states rights versus federal rights.
- Between 1815 and 1861 the economy of the Northern states was rapidly modernizing and diversifying. industrialization had taken root there. Moreover, Northerners had invested heavily in an expansive and varied transportation system that included canals, roads, steamboats, and railroads.
- The Southern economy was based principally on large farms called plantations that produced commercial crops such as cotton and that relied on slaves as the main labour force. Rather than invest in factories or railroads as Northerners had done, Southerners invested their money in slaves.
- The key issue of contention was the expansion of slavery into new states which dates back as far as the Northwest Ordinance of 1784. When the slave territory of Missouri sought statehood in 1818, Congress debated for two years before arriving upon the Missouri Compromise of 1820.
- This was the first of a series of political deals that resulted from arguments between proslavery and antislavery forces over the expansion of slavery.
- The end of the Mexican-American War in 1848 and new territory that the United States gained as a result of it added a new sense of urgency to the dispute.
- America’s westward expansion raised questions about what laws and customs should be followed in the West. Ever since the nation’s early days, the northern and southern parts of the United States had followed different ways of life. Each section wanted to extend its way of life to the new territories and states in the West.
- Another bone of contention between two halves of America is the role and powers of the federal government. While the Southern part wanted the federal government to adhere to the strict definition of the federation and limit its role in matters of an individual state, especially in matters of slavery regulation, north viewed federal government has right to regulate and even abolish slavery.
- More and more Northerners, driven by a sense of morality or an interest in protecting free labour, came to believe, in the 1850s, that bondage needed to be eradicated. White Southerners feared that limiting the expansion of slavery would consign the institution to certain death.
- Over the decade, the two sides became increasingly polarized and politicians less able to contain the dispute through compromise.
- When Abraham Lincoln, the candidate of the explicitly antislavery Republican Party, won the 1860 presidential election, seven Southern states carried out their threat and seceded, organizing as the Confederate States of America.
Though the issue of slavery came to fore as the central issue that led to civil war, the main issue was the sectional disharmony between the North and the South that go back to the inception of the republic. The differing cultures of North and South and their intention to make American in their respective images fractured the nation and drove it into a bloody civil war.
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The Spanish civil war of 1936-39, was a military revolt, supported by the conservative elements in the country against the elected republican government. The failure of the initial military coup ensued a bloody civil war. Though an internal issue of Spain, the civil war was looked upon by major poweRead more
The Spanish civil war of 1936-39, was a military revolt, supported by the conservative elements in the country against the elected republican government. The failure of the initial military coup ensued a bloody civil war. Though an internal issue of Spain, the civil war was looked upon by major powers of the time through their lenses and treated this as a dress rehearsal for the second world war.
Spanish Civil War And Its Causes
The great depression acted as a precursor for the civil war, it ruined Spain’s economy. Created huge unemployment and resentment against the rule of General Rivera who came to power with the support of the army. With depression destroying the economy of Spain, the army withdrew support to Rivera, and the new Spanish republic was proclaimed which faced serious issues from its conception that led to the civil war.
Threat Of Fascist Aggression During Civil War Period
The Spanish civil war also coincided with the period where the majority of Europe was under threat from aggressive military policies and fascist policies from Hitler and Mussolini and Asia was under threat from expansionist Japan. The events that took place during this period made it apparent that the world is heading towards another war.
Spanish Civil War A Dress Rehearsal For World War
The blatant violation of the Versailles treaty and aggressive warlike postures of Hitler and Mussolini alarmed the world. It was in this backdrop the Spanish civil war started. The internal affair of Spain soon saw the involvement of all major powers of the world and thus served as a dress rehearsal of war that was sure to come.
Though all major powers of Europe participated in the civil war, Britain and France once again failed the world by not taking strict action against Hitler and Germany. Some British officials preferred a fascist -leaning Nationalist regime to a leftist one. Britain and France imposed an arms embargo on both sides, but with the Nationalists receiving German and Italian weapons, the freeze only hurt the Republicans. Spanish civil war served as proving ground to Hitler’s and the Soviet’s army. The civil war itself ended in 1939, when Republicans finally surrendered Madrid, bringing the Spanish Civil War to an end. Franco assumed power as dictator of Spain and ruled till 1975.
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