In the year 1936, Spain was an extremist country. In February 1936 new elections were called, and left-winged coalition called Frente Popular (Popular Front) won (34,3% of total votes, against 33,2% of the right-winged). The Frente Popular's victory put a weak Government, heavily damaged for internal struggles, which had to act against public disorders due to the international crisis.It was the moment when Italty invaded Abyssinia, Hitler started an even more aggresive attitude against the Versailles Treaty, and Fascim started to rise in Europe, altogether with the last effects of the 1929 crack.
Between February and July 1936, population and government had completely different ideas, there were strikes one after another, and there was a lot of tension in the population itself. Not only this, but the government was unable to handle the situation, and no exit was insight. Spain in 1936 was nearer to total collapse than to a revolution.
The ideas were at their edges. There was a common sense that a civil war was not only unavoidable, but even necessary.
It was then when the most important Generals in the Spanish Army thought a coup d'etat could give Spain a much needed stillness. This was called La Conspiración (The Conspiration). General Mola in Pamplona was the director of the Alzamiento (insurrection). General Franco, leader of the African Army flew from the Canary Islands to Morocco so to uphold the Alzamiento. General Queipo de Llano in Sevilla, General Cabanellas in Zaragoza and General Goded in Barcelona were also leaders upholding the Alzamiento. Goded was soon defeated by the forces which remained loyal to the Republic. All the other generals named, succeeded. This was the 18th July 1936. The number of forces which remained loyal to the Republic made any attempt to gain Madrid or Barcelona useless. This divided the country, but did not replace the government, which was the Alzamiento objective. The war had just begun.