Julieta Correa: septiembre 2013

70 years of debt

The Spanish Civil War was a social, military and political conflict. The war was between The Republicans represented by the workers, peasants, trade unions, but also by the Spanish government, Socialists, Communists and Anarchists and The Nationalists supported by the Army, landowners, industrials, the middle classes and the Catholic Church. The war also had internationals implications, The Republicans received the support of the Soviet Union and European democracies while The Nationalists were supported by Germany and Italy. The war became notable by the atrocities committed by both sides. Between 1936 and 1939 over 500,000 people were killed in the Spanish Civil War though many sources claim that the actual number of deaths is about 1,000,000 people. The war was the result of a society which wanted to grow, people who looked for freedom and equality and people who were ashamed of the privileges that were enjoyed by the nobility, the church and landowners. Unfortunately, the chosen form was not the correct one, the Church position was not clear, hundreds died and the result was 40 years of dictatorship.[1]

A country at war always suffers tragic consequences which harm the life of all the inhabitants of that place. Such is the case of Spanish civil war, after the war Spain had to face a big number of tragic and bloody consequences. Around 700,000 people were killed, Priests and members of the Church were killed as well, Republicans were sent to concentration camps and executed. Another important consequence was the destruction of infrastructure and homes, 200 buildings were burned and made uninhabitable. Furthermore, the damage of the active population brought about a decrease in the production thus affecting the economy of the country.

Dictatorship prevents the growth of a country, hurts international relations and human rights become violated. Spain had a dictatorial regime for nearly 40 years. During that period the country was ruled by Franco who hardly repressed the enemies of the regime. Between the punishments we can find censorship of the different points of view, imprisonment of ideological enemies in concentration camps, the implementation of forced labour in prisons and the use of death penalty among others. Those years left a wound in the heart of Spain that was not healed yet.

The Catholic Church played different roles on both sides. Between The Republicans over 6.000 members of the Church were killed, churches were closed and Catholics were persecuted. On the other side, Spanish Catholic Church enthusiastically supported “the national cause”; what is more, they called the war as “the holy war” thus giving Franco a religious legitimacy that he did not have at the beginning of the war.

70 years have passed and Spain still owes its people justice and dignity. Many dictators have the history of the humanity, many deaths were not clarified, few countries can be proud as the Argentine people who could see its worst oppressor in prison. As Hernán Brienza quotes “Pinochet died free, Franco died free, Hitler committed suicide in freedom, Stalin died free but Videla died in prison”. Justice to the oppressors makes us free.

[1] Expossitory Thesis Statement

Outline

Introduction

Thesis Statement: Unfortunately, the chosen form was not the correct one, the Church position was not clear, hundreds died and the result was 40 years of dictatorship.

Thesis Statement

Unfortunately, the chosen form was not the correct one, hundreds died and the result was 40 years of dictatorship.

Body Paragraph 1

A country at war always suffers tragic consequences which harm the life of all the inhabitants of the place. Such is the case of Spanish civil war.

Major details

Deaths

Destruction

Economic consequences

Body Paragraph 2

Dictatorship prevents the growth of a country, hurts international relations and human rights become violated.

Major details

40 years of dictatorial regime