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The weakened government eventually collapsed, and new elections were called for 1936. The General Election saw a victory for a left-wing alliance of parties, including Communists, Anarchists, and Socialists. Regional parties also supported this government. They immediately launched an ambitious program of reforms, especially land reform, to meet the ‘expectations of the urban and rural poor,’ which alienated many Spanish elites.<ref>Preston, 7.</ref> Many Spaniards believed that a communist revolution was imminent.
“They eyed with mounting alarm the red flags and banners and portraits of Lenin, Stalin, and Largo Caballero on huge placards, and listened to the chanting of the demonstrators, demanding the formation of a proletarian government and a people’s army’’army.’’<ref> Beevor, 124.</ref> In response, right-wing extremists such as the Falange militia began a violent campaign against the left-wing government. The right could not accept that the Left was the legitimate government and believed that they were entitled to use violence to secure their position and interests.
== What started the Spanish Civil War? ==
