Spain’s Second Republic: Reforms and Challenges (1931-1933)
The Second Republic and the Revolutionary Committee
Following the Pact of San Sebastian, the Revolutionary Committee, chaired by Niceto Alcalá-Zamora, became a provisional government. To gauge its support, the committee convened elections between April 13th and 14th. The elections of June 1931 were won by the parties composing the provisional government (Revolutionary Committee). This period is closely related to the Reformist Biennium (1931-1933) due to the continuity of measures aimed at implementing revolutionary policies of a legal nature.
Initial Goals of the Provisional Government
From the outset, the interim government had two main objectives:
- To determine its level of support through elections.
- To address pressing societal issues.
The elections for the Constituent Cortes in June 1931 were won by Socialists and Left Republicans, leading to a coalition government. The first task of these Cortes was to draft a constitution (December 1931). This constitution reflected the ideology of the majority parties, emphasizing equality and freedom. It introduced a compromise between centralized and decentralized state models through Statutes of Autonomy, recognizing the right to autonomy while maintaining state unity (Catalonia, Basque Country, Andalusia, etc.).
Key Constitutional Changes
- Church-State Relations: Spain became a secular state with no official religion. Economic support for the clergy was ended, and the Jesuits were eventually expelled.
- Women’s Suffrage: The right of women to vote was recognized in June 1931, with women voting for the first time in the 1933 elections.
- Electoral Innovation: Universal, direct, and secret suffrage was introduced. The Cortes became unicameral, eliminating the Senate.
- New Institutions: The Court of Constitutional Guarantees and the Permanent Deputation of the Cortes were created.
Challenges Facing the Republic
The second challenge facing the Republic was to address a number of long-standing problems urgently requiring resolution:
- The land question
- Church-state relations
- Education
- The military
Attempts to solve all problems simultaneously created many enemies. The government’s reform policies were perceived as slow, leading to impatience on both the right and the left, ultimately contributing to instability.
Specific Problems and Reforms
Military Reform
Issues within the military included:
- Macrocephaly (excessive number of high-ranking officers) due to promotions by seniority.
- Excessive political involvement.
- Technological backwardness.
Manuel Azaña (in the interim government) sought to secure the army’s loyalty and reduce the number of officers. He offered voluntary retirement with full pay, reviewed promotions granted during the previous period (favoring merit-based promotions), and closed some military academies, including the one in Zaragoza (led by General Franco). These actions caused unrest within the military, culminating in General Sanjurjo’s attempted coup in August 1932.
Church and State
The Church was reluctant to lose power, leading to conflict over the separation of church and state. The interim government took initial steps, such as allowing civil burials and marriages. After the 1931 Constitution, more radical measures were adopted under Article 26, including suspending economic support for the clergy and expelling the Jesuits. The Church initially remained cautious, but after riots (burning of churches and convents) following Cardinal Segura’s letter (May) and the lack of intervention by public order forces, it became alarmed, establishing an unnecessary enemy for the government.
Education Reform
The Republic aimed to reduce the high illiteracy rate by implementing a plan for school construction and improving teachers’ conditions. As a secular political system, this posed a challenge to the Church’s influence on education.