Republicans loyal to the elected Choosing , left-leaning Second Spanish Republic , in alliance with anarchists , fought Hostile_encounter against a revolt Change_of_leadership by the Nationalists , an alliance of Falangists , monarchists , conservatives and Catholics , led by a military group among whom General Francisco Franco soon achieved Achieve a preponderant role .

World War I led to Causation the collapse of the Russian Empire , causing Causation a power vacuum in Finland , and a subsequent struggle for dominance led to Causation militarisation Bearing_arms and an escalating crisis between the left-leaning labour movement and the conservatives .

The first phase ended Process_end in a 1927 political split between two factions of the KMT : the right-leaning Nanjing faction , led by Chiang , and the left-leaning faction in Wuhan , led by Wang Jingwei .

A period of dual power ensued Coming_to_be , during which the Provisional Government held Hold state Statement power while the national network of Soviets , led Conquering by socialists , had the allegiance of the lower classes and , increasingly , the left-leaning urban middle class .