Second Spanish Republic (1931-1936): Key Reforms
Religious Reforms (1931-1933)
The Republic aimed to limit religious influence and secularize society. The Constitution established state non-confessionalism, freedom of worship, and the elimination of clergy from the state budget. Divorce and civil marriage were legalized.
The government banned religious orders from teaching, culminating in the Law of Congregations. This law limited the property of religious orders and allowed for their dissolution if deemed dangerous.
These reforms sparked backlash from Catholic sectors, leading to anticlerical movements and the burning of religious buildings. The Church hierarchy expressed antagonism towards the Republic, with Cardinal Segura’s expulsion highlighting the tension.
Military Modernization
The Republican government, recognizing the need for army reform, appointed Azaña as Minister of Defense. The reform aimed to create a professional army by reducing its size, ending military privileges, and ensuring civilian control.
The Law of Officer Retirement allowed officers to retire with full pay, leading to a significant reduction in officer numbers. Military ranks were simplified, units reduced, and the Zaragoza Military Academy (a center of military unrest) was closed. Courts of honor and the Supreme Military Justice were also abolished. The Assault Guards, a force loyal to the Republic, were created.
Despite cost reductions, the reform faced resistance from Africanist officers who viewed it as an attack on military traditions. This discontent was exploited by right-wing forces to encourage military revolt.
Land Reform
Land reform aimed to address the issue of latifundismo in southern Spain and improve conditions for farmers. Initial decrees protected tenant farmers and established minimum wages and working hours.
The Agrarian Reform Law allowed for the expropriation of poorly farmed land, primarily targeting large estates. The goal was agricultural modernization, not collectivization.
The Institute of Agrarian Reform was tasked with implementing the reform, but its efforts were hampered by bureaucratic difficulties, limited budgets, and landowner resistance. The reform’s limited success led to social unrest, with landowners aligning against the Republic and farmers becoming disillusioned.