Anastasio de Gracia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anastasio de Gracia Villarrubia
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| Minister of Industry and Commerce | |
| In office 4 September 1936 – 4 November 1936 |
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| Preceded by | Plácido Álvarez-Buylla Lozana |
| Succeeded by | Joan Peiró (Industry) Juan López Sánchez (Commerce) |
| Minister of Labor and Welfare | |
| In office 4 November 1936 – 17 May 1937 |
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| Preceded by | Josep Tomàs i Piera |
| Succeeded by | Jaume Aiguader |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 18 September 1890 Mora, Toledo, Spain |
| Died | 14 March 1981 (aged 90) Mexico City, Mexico |
| Occupation | Bricklayer, trade union leader, politician |
Anastasio de Gracia Villarrubia (born September 18, 1890 – died March 14, 1981) was an important Spanish leader. He started as a bricklayer and became a strong voice for workers.
He was a trade union leader, which means he helped groups of workers get fair pay and good working conditions. He was also a socialist politician, someone who believes the government should help people, especially workers.
During the Second Spanish Republic (1931–1939), he was elected to represent people in the government. Later, during the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939), he served as a minister (a high-ranking government official) in the government of Francisco Largo Caballero.
After the war, he had to leave Spain and live in Mexico City, Mexico. This is called going into exile. He lived there for over 40 years.
Contents
Anastasio de Gracia: Early Life and Worker's Rights
Anastasio de Gracia Villarrubia was born in 1890 in a small town called Mora, in Toledo, Spain. His family was very poor.
He learned to be a bricklayer. When he was 21, he moved to Madrid to find work.
Joining Unions and Helping Workers
In 1903, Anastasio joined a local union. Unions are groups that protect workers' rights. In 1913, he joined the Madrid Socialist Group.
He became a leader in the Madrid Construction Union. Later, he led the Madrid branch of a big union called the Unión General de Trabajadores (UGT). This union worked to improve things for many workers.
Anastasio was very active. He traveled a lot to meet workers and write reports. He also went to international meetings in cities like Stockholm and Brussels to discuss building and construction.
Becoming a Socialist Leader
Anastasio de Gracia became an important member of the Partido Socialista Obrero Español (PSOE), which is the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party. He was part of the central group within this party.
He represented different worker groups at many UGT and PSOE meetings. He worked hard to make sure workers' voices were heard.
From 1928 to 1931, he was part of the UGT's main leadership team. He worked alongside other important leaders to guide the union.
Anastasio de Gracia in the Spanish Republic
In 1931, Spain became the Second Spanish Republic. This meant Spain had a new government system without a king.
Elected to Government
Anastasio de Gracia was elected to the Spanish parliament in 1931. He chose to represent the area of Toledo. He worked on committees related to labor and records.
He was re-elected in 1933 and 1936. In parliament, he continued to focus on issues important to workers and the economy.
Leading the UGT Union
In 1932, Anastasio led a big meeting for the UGT union. He was chosen to be part of the union's main committee.
From 1932 to 1934, he represented the Building Federation on the UGT's National Committee. In 1934, he became the president of the UGT. This was a time when the union was deciding how much to get involved in politics.
In 1936, Anastasio stepped down as UGT president. He had some disagreements with other leaders about how the union was working with the Communist Party.
Anastasio de Gracia During the Spanish Civil War and Exile
The Spanish Civil War began in 1936. It was a very difficult time for Spain.
Serving as a Minister
Anastasio de Gracia was asked to join the government of Prime Minister Francisco Largo Caballero. He became the Minister of Industry and Commerce in September 1936. This meant he was in charge of factories and trade.
In November 1936, he became the Minister of Labor and Welfare. In this role, he worked on issues related to jobs and helping people. He served in this position until May 1937.
During the war, there were many disagreements within the government. Anastasio, along with other ministers, resigned in May 1937. This led to a change in leadership.
After this, Anastasio became the Commissioner General of Armament. He helped manage weapons and supplies for the war effort.
Life in Exile
The Republicans lost the Spanish Civil War in 1939. Anastasio de Gracia had to leave Spain. He went into exile in Mexico.
In Mexico City, he continued to be active in Spanish socialist groups. He worked with the Círculo Pablo Iglesias and the Agrupación Socialista Española de México. He also stayed involved with the UGT union from afar.
Anastasio de Gracia Villarrubia lived in Mexico for over 40 years. He passed away in Mexico City on March 14, 1981, at the age of 90.
Sources
See also
In Spanish: Anastasio de Gracia para niños
