Widespread unemployment and poor living conditions led to the unopposed military coup of 1931, effectively ending the rule of president Isidro Ayora.
Supported by the far-right, lower class movement of Compactación Obrera Nacional, Neptalí Bonifaz Ascázubi became the Ecuadorian president.
[1] In August 1932, a variety of liberal and leftist Congress members blocked Bonifaz's assumption of power, thus starting the war.
Despite the initial success, Bonifaz failed to remain in power, as the majority of the armed forces stationed in Quito avoided any involvement in the conflict.
[1][2] Experiences related to the Ecuadorian civil war have inspired a large number of Oswaldo Guayasamín's early works, including "Los Niños Muertos".