AP World History Spanish Civil War DBQ

Michael Moorhead 3rd Hour

Spanish Civil War DBQ The Spanish Revolution was sparked during a very confrontational section of world history. Conveniently ending in 1939, the year of World War IIs emergence, many world powers had been involved in the setting up of a New Spain, although much different intent is shown in the documents given. It is shown that Russia and Germany immediately sent extensive military equipment to Spain, preparing to fight with all that they might have to impose on their governments in Spain. Other countries, like Britain, express their intents to keep the peace in Spain, rather than forcing a new government upon it, they would make thorough attempts to have the citizens decide such. In the documents, one is shown many points-of-view of the people and many sides of the story, piecing together the events and inspiration behind the Spanish Revolution of the mid-20th century. This leads one to believe that the Spanish Revolution had a bigger impact internationally than most revolutions before that, mainly because of the time period it took place in. The first thing to set off the chain reaction that led to an overly large international impact was the immediate military reactions from Russia and Germany, who immediately sent large, extensive amounts of military necessities along with soldiers to fight in the war for a New Spain to be built upon their governments. As seen after the revolution, Francisco Franco winds up becoming the fascist dictator of Spain, and in document 1, it shows he calls out to Germany for help beforehand. This caused Germany to send and send away, become a huge hand in the revolution straightaway. In document 3, the reaction of the Soviet Union is explained. A message by a defense commissar shows the dispatch of loads of war equipment to be sent to Spain, in support of a Republican Spain. In both of these documents, one can see the extensive militaristic reaction from both the republic and fascist state supporters, involving a large amount of war equipment and force to take place in Spain in order to support their governments. On the other hand, one can see a peaceful reaction in three of the documents given, intending to keep the peace and safely bring Spain to a serene meeting point. In document 2, the British Prime Minister makes an

AP World History Spanish Civil War DBQ

Michael Moorhead 3rd Hour

announcement stating that they want to deliver peace and security in Spain, assuring to work towards safety in the state. It would be continued until Spain showed hope of avoiding major conflict in the future. In document 4, one can observe a medical van donated by Spain to New Zealand. This shows Spains reaching-out to other countries to have them help out in the revolution; they wanted safety delivered as well, one could only presume. It also states that the van was purchased by the communists and republicans alike, showing their peaceful involvements and wanting safety to permit. In document 9, a Scottish communist found his way in the revolutions outcome. However, let is be known that the interview was done by Republicans. The Scot simply stated that all the communists had wanted to do, ultimately, was deliver Spain to a freedom of election to let them choose where they wanted to stand governmentally. These three documents all show the peaceful involvement of the leaders in the Spanish revolution, working gradually towards a peaceful understanding for the most part, although not everyone involved was all for the peace. Two of the documents given portray the hidden slander and happenings that went on during the revolution. In document 5, a Republican Propaganda poster from the year 1937 is shown, translated to say, All the cities of the world are in the International Brigades supporting Republican Spain. This, however, is a complete manipulation of the truth, and it appears quite obvious that not everyone is in support of the republic. The poster was probably just made to persuade people into wanting a republic, whether it had been successful or not is still unclear. Document 10, published by a Roman Catholic periodical in 1937 shows some hidden information that seemed to go unnoticed during the revolution. Though the US was telling everyone to be in complete support of the republic, saying that it was worthy of support by democratic, representative Americans, the document points out that much was hidden from the public regarding Americas partisanship. Over 150,000 Catholic noncombatants were slaughtered by Communists and Anarchists, which seemed to be masked by the US in these publishings, and not acknowledged by the press. These documents show the lies and manipulation present during the revolution. Lying and secret keeping seemed to be common things to do in order to get support for the side seeking a republic style government.

AP World History Spanish Civil War DBQ

Michael Moorhead 3rd Hour

In documents 6, 7 and 8, the sides of important social groups and their opinions on the revolution are shown. In document 6, an African-American volunteer soldier explains why he decided to fight in the war. He believed strongly that crushing fascism, rather than ignoring it as in the past, would pave the way for a society that could avoid racism and conquer peace. His point-of-view must be outlined here as an American, incredibly horrid racism was very common, especially in the south, showing many African Americans just how horrible people can be. This was especially proven with empirical evidence found by the use of Jim Crowe Laws. This volunteer, Canute Frankson, does not want to see fascism continue to conquer and segregate the common people against those that were fighting to be in those places. It was already happening in America, and even worse in other parts of the world (Germany, for example) and he wanted such racism to be stopped. Continually, in document 7, the story is shown from a Jewish American volunteer soldier. In a letter to his mother, he explains why he volunteered to be in the war. He outlines that it had been ignored in the past, causing it to blossom and create even more racist barriers, including against Jews. He notes how it is growing because no one has done anything about it, and this is exactly why he wants to stop it. A point-of-view of his is greatly important here, as Jewish people were common victims of racism and segregation all throughout the globe. It is almost ironic that the Holocaust was just beginning at that period, and only worsened because not enough was done. This man, Hyman Katz, decided he should do something about it, before it was too late. Even more so, in document eight, a woman gives her standpoint. Evelyn Hutchins here shows her disgust with fascist policies, especially regarding women. Ever since she was little she had built up hatred for fascists, when she would hear word of leaders creating laws against womens rights and such. This highlights a very strong point-of-view in Hutchins, showing that she had grown up disliking fascism, and continued to be in disgust when hearing about their treatment to women. All of these three documents, and these three people, wanted to defend what they knew and loved, and wanted to stop a fascist Spain from being conquered. They all knew that it would only worsen the status for their societal groups, and that is why many just like them fought so hard to keep it out of Spain.

AP World History Spanish Civil War DBQ

Michael Moorhead 3rd Hour

In conclusion, there are many documents from many different people, and from many different opinion areas. The first thing noted was the reactions of Germany and Russia as the revolution broke out, with strong war weaponry immediately being shipped to Spain. Later on, on the other side of the case, the peaceful standpoints, mainly from those from Great Britain were shown. Keeping the peace, health and safety appeared to be very important while the revolution occurred, and many wanted to deliver Spain to a point where they could unite happily under a government they wanted. Also shown were the lies and hidden secrets in support of certain governments that went on during the revolution. Lastly, there were standpoints shown from an African American, a Jew and a woman, all American, and their desperate struggle to keep fascism away from Spain, in desire to set up a society enlightened all upon human rights. Some missing documents that would have helped greatly would have been the opinions of the Italians or Germans, so one could find out all that was going on during the revolution from a point of view of someone that is assisting war efforts. Documents from more big leaders from the time would have helped greatly as well, showing their influence on the revolution and what would have happened had their support not been offered. All in all, the documents piece together many important parts of the revolution of Spain in the mid-20th century, and show how it all caused a massive affect on the international scale because of all the alliances pulled into the conflict. Had this not been resolved by people destined to find peace in the war, students could perhaps be studying the Spanish Civil War as the initial cause to World War II rather than the Germans breaking the Treaty of Versailles.