Final answer:
Spain's military commanders responded to rebellions with attempts to suppress them forcefully, be it in their American colonies or within their own borders during the Spanish Civil War.
Step-by-step explanation:
Throughout various instances of rebellion against Spain, the reactions from the Spanish military commanders and leadership were often severe, involving attempts to quell uprisings and maintain control. In the face of the Cuban rebellion, Spain struggled due to limited military resources and could not adequately patrol the island, resulting in the rebels maintaining control of the highlands and rural areas. The Spanish reaction involved guerilla warfare, which proved to be effective for the rebels.
The Spanish military's inability to suppress independence movements in South America, such as the uprisings in Argentina which spread throughout the continent, led to the eventual independence of all Central and South American colonies by 1824. During the Spanish Civil War, General Francisco Franco led a rebellion, receiving support from Mussolini and Hitler, showcasing Spain's militaristic response to political dissent within its own borders. However, historic insurrections like the Inca rebellion in Peru and the Comunero Revolt in New Granada (Colombia) ended in brutal repression at the hands of the creoles and Spanish forces.
In reaction to Napoléon's invasion of Spain, the Spanish military and populace rose against the imposition of Joseph Bonaparte as king, leading to the Peninsular War. Similarly, the reaction to uprisings in New Spain was largely led by local royalist armies composed of Mexicans opposed to the rebellions, which in themselves were a form of revolutionary civil war.