Spain’s Second Republic: Formation and Reforms
The Second Republic (I)
1. The Configuration of the New Regime
The electoral victory of the Republicans in the cities led to the fall of the monarchy. Alfonso XIII went into exile after the Civil Guard confirmed that the monarchy would not fight. In Barcelona, Macià proclaimed the Catalan Republic, however, representatives of the new provisional government convinced him to trust in its recognition through a future statute. Change was necessary to bury the old Spain of the Restoration.
The bishops recalled the need for respect towards the new rulers, and the Vatican’s announcement in Madrid encouraged the Spanish Church to cooperate with the Republic. However, before the first month of the provisional government was over, a hundred church buildings were burned by anonymous provocateurs or individuals who believed that the greatest problem in Spain was the power of the Church.
- The Elections for the Constituent Cortes: The Republican-Socialist union won a majority in almost all provinces, except in the Basque Country and Navarre, where nationalists and traditionalists were victorious. The Congress was tilted to the left and included MPs without political experience. However, it also included the leaders of major parties and a group of intellectuals (Unamuno, Ortega y Gasset).
2. The Constitution of 1931
The drafting of a new constitution was the first task of the deputies. They elected the moderate socialist Julián Besteiro as president of the chamber.
The new law imposed the dissolution of religious orders that were considered a danger, as well as restrictions on the clergy’s budget. In protest against these measures, the deputies from the right left Congress, and Alcalá Zamora resigned from his post in the government.
With the constitution adopted on December 9, 1931, Spain became a democratic, secular state with a single chamber and a government responsible to the people, with universal suffrage.
The new constitution defined a strong central state to solve problems, but regional autonomy statutes were enacted. Alcalá Zamora, chosen by Congress as President of the Republic, confirmed Manuel Azaña at the head of the premiership.
3. The Reforms of the Republican-Socialist Biennium
Educational Reform: The educational system imposed progressive education. Teachers’ salaries were increased, and they were given better training, in a country with a 44% illiteracy rate.
- Military Reform: The army was modernized. Early retirement was offered to many officers with full pay. The Republic created the Assault Guard as a counterweight to the Civil Guard.
- Land Reform: In Extremadura and Andalusia, starving peasants and tenants hoped that Azaña’s regime would end all fieldwork by Spaniards with a fairer distribution of property. Therefore, it was urgent to pass a law expropriating large estates and distributing them among the landless peasants.
- Labor Laws: A liberal policy was established under the leadership of the socialist minister Largo Caballero, who implemented various reforms, including an eight-hour workday for farmers.
- The Statutes of Autonomy: Azaña pushed for the adoption of the Statute of Catalonia, delivering a major speech to secure the necessary votes. In the Basque Country, for the Socialists and Republicans, autonomous status was a minor issue.
In 1933, social unrest increased, and the PSOE became more radical. Martínez Barrio formed a government promising to hold elections.