We tell news and stories in clear English to help you understand the world and improve your English. On November 4, 1936, four members of Spain’s anarcho-syndicalist CNT joined…
Transcript
Welcome to Slow English FM. This is Today in History, where we explore one event from the past and why it mattered. We tell news and stories in clear English to help you understand the world and improve your English.
On November 4, 1936, four members of Spain’s anarcho-syndicalist CNT joined the national government. The CNT, the National Confederation of Labour, was a trade-union group. Anarcho-syndicalism combines anarchist ideas with organizing workers through unions. Its entry brought a major workers’ organization into a country at war.
Spain’s Civil War had begun in July, after a military rebellion against the government. The rebellion succeeded in some areas and was defeated in others. Spain was divided between forces supporting the government, called Republicans, and the rebels, called Nationalists. The Republican government had to bring together different groups and respond to the war. The CNT’s entry added anarchists to a coalition that already included other political groups.
Francisco Largo Caballero, a Socialist leader, became prime minister of the Republic on September 4. A prime minister leads the government. His coalition already included socialists, communists, left republicans and Basque nationalists. The CNT was still outside the government. Its four representatives—Juan García Oliver, Juan Peiró, Juan López Sánchez and Federica Montseny—joined on November 4. A contemporary U.S. embassy telegram reported that the new cabinet included these four CNT representatives.
The four ministers took charge of Justice, Industry, Commerce and Public Health. Montseny became Spain’s first woman minister. The CNT now had a place in the central government, but it did not control military decisions. Historian Julián Casanova writes that CNT ministers were excluded from those decisions. He also describes obstacles to Peiró’s efforts on industrial policy. So the CNT had a voice in government, while its ministers faced limits on their influence.
The CNT ministers joined the government as the battle for Madrid was approaching. At the cabinet meeting on November 6, the government decided to move from Madrid to Valencia. On November 7, Nationalist forces began a ground assault on Madrid. The government was moving its seat while the battle for the capital was beginning.
The change on November 4 was significant because a major workers’ organization entered Spain’s national government during a civil war. It widened the coalition, while the fighting and limits on the CNT’s influence continued. Thanks for listening to Today in History on Slow English FM. Stay with Slow English FM for more clear English news and stories.
Vocabulary in this episode
- anarcho-syndicalist
On November 4, 1936, four members of Spain’s anarcho-syndicalist CNT joined the national government.
This describes a person or group linked to a movement that combines anarchist ideas with organizing workers through unions.
- trade-union group
The CNT, the National Confederation of Labour, was a trade-union group.
This is an organization that represents workers and works to protect their interests.
- rebellion
Spain’s Civil War had begun in July, after a military rebellion against the government.
Here, it means an armed attempt to oppose or remove the government.
- rebellion
The rebellion succeeded in some areas and was defeated in others.
Here, it means the military uprising against the government.
- coalition
The CNT’s entry added anarchists to a coalition that already included other political groups.
This is an alliance of different political groups working together.
- coalition
His coalition already included socialists, communists, left republicans and Basque nationalists.
This means the political groups that had joined together to support his government.
- coalition
It widened the coalition, while the fighting and limits on the CNT’s influence continued.
This means the alliance of political groups supporting the government.
- excluded from
Historian Julián Casanova writes that CNT ministers were excluded from those decisions.
They were not allowed to take part in the military decisions.
- ground assault
On November 7, Nationalist forces began a ground assault on Madrid.
This means a military attack on the city by forces moving on land.
- seat
The government was moving its seat while the battle for the capital was beginning.
Here, it means the place where the government is based.
- significant
The change on November 4 was significant because a major workers’ organization entered Spain’s national government during a civil war.
Here, it means important because it had a notable effect on the government.