The Second Spanish Republic (1931-1936)
1. The Provisional Government and the Constitution of 1931
Provisional Government
On April 14, 1931, the Second Spanish Republic was proclaimed, representing a challenge to an important part of Spanish society, especially traditionalist conservatives, the Church, the army, and the agrarian oligarchy. A coalition provisional government was formed, including radicals, socialists (Indalecio Prieto, Largo Caballero, Fernando de los Ríos), Acción Republicana, Esquerra Republicana, Galicians, and the Republican right, with Alcalá-Zamora presiding. The government focused on democratization: calling Constituent elections and committing to defending individual rights and accountability. The Republic faced four major challenges: regionalism, religion, the military, and social issues. It undertook several urgent reforms.
The Regional Problem
An agreement with Esquerra Republicana led to the replacement of the Catalan Mancomunitat with the Generalitat, ratified by a plebiscite. A joint tribunal was established to resolve disputes between Madrid and Barcelona, and Catalan was declared an official language. In the Basque Country, the Statute of Estella, with a focus on decentralization, was prepared. The Galician and Valencian questions were left to the constitution.
The Religious Question
The Pastoral of Cardinal Segura and the creation of the Independent Monarchist Centre sparked anti-Catholic sentiment, culminating in the burning of convents and religious symbols. Azaña’s inaction during the riots led to the banishment of Cardinal Segura and the Bishop of Vitoria.
The Military Question
Azaña, believing the Church supported the military and royalists, initiated a negotiated purge of non-Republicans, which ultimately failed. The Law of Jurisdictions, used for repression, was repealed.
Social Reforms
Largo Caballero outlined a social security system and enacted labor measures: health and unemployment insurance, paid vacations, improved accident allocations, and an eight-hour workday. The dictatorial Corporate Labour Organization was replaced by Joint Committees, renamed jurados, to regulate working life. Agrarian reform began with the Municipal Act (prioritizing local worker hiring) and the Law of Obligatory Cultivation.
The Constitution of 1931
The Spanish state was declared a republic of workers. The constitution established a separation of powers, with the executive branch embodied in the Government and the President of the Republic. The president had no veto power but could dissolve the Cortes twice during their six-year term. Popular sovereignty, including women’s suffrage, was defined. The constitution allowed for provinces to form autonomous regions. Church and state were separated. Due to pressure from the CNT, the repressive Law on Defence of the Republic was enacted, with its application overseen by the Tribunal of Constitutional Guarantees. Following its approval on December 10, 1931, Niceto Alcalá-Zamora was named President.
2. The Republican Biennium of Azaña
International Situation
The regime change coincided with the Great Depression. Spain’s relative resilience was due to the peseta’s depreciation, which boosted export competitiveness.
Army Reform
Azaña’s “Law Azaña” aimed to democratize the army, ending privileges and ensuring loyalty to the Republic. Traditional ranks were eliminated, units and officers reduced, and the Zaragoza Military Academy closed. The Assault Guard was created to maintain order.
The Religious Question
The Republic aimed to limit the Church’s influence. Fear of religious orders led to the dissolution of the Jesuits. The Law of Congregations further secularized the Republic.
Land Reform
The major social project was agrarian reform (May-September 1932), legally expressed in the Basic Law. Its objectives were to end landlordism, penalize absenteeism, and ensure land benefited those who worked it.
Autonomy
The Constitution of 1931 recognized the right to autonomy. The Basque PNV and Carlists approved the Statute of Estella in June 1931.
Social and Educational Reforms
Largo Caballero implemented social reforms, including social insurance and the Employment Contracts Act (raising wages). Marcelino Domingo’s education law aimed to improve literacy through building schools, hiring teachers, establishing religious freedom in schools, and creating Pedagogical Missions (1931).
Challenges
General Sanjurjo’s failed coup in August 1932 was motivated by agrarian reform and the Catalan Statute. Anarchist uprisings, such as the Castiblanco incident and the Casas Viejas event, created tension between Azaña and the PSOE. Azaña’s anti-clerical policies distanced him from Alcalá-Zamora. Municipal elections saw right-wing gains, and Azaña lost a Constitutional Court vote. Ezquerra and PSOE withdrew support, leading to Alcalá-Zamora’s withdrawal of confidence. In October 1933, Martínez Barrio dissolved Parliament and called elections.
3. The Radical-Cedista Biennium (1934-1936)
The center-right coalition faced leftist hostility. Government measures included amnesty for some rebels, halting agrarian reform and secularization, attempting to introduce the death penalty, limiting worker participation in jurados, and clashing with nationalists over land ownership. Radicalized leftist parties and unions formed the Anti-Fascist and Socialist Alliance. A failed farmers’ strike resulted in deaths and arrests. The CEDA’s entry into the government triggered the October 1934 Revolution, a general strike with a violent outcome. Corruption scandals led to Lerroux’s resignation in October 1935. After Chapaprieta’s brief term, Alcalá-Zamora appointed Portela Valladares, who dissolved Parliament in January 1936 and called elections.
4. The Popular Front Government
Azaña replaced Casares Quiroga. The new government implemented reforms: a general amnesty, re-establishment of educational reform, resumption of land reform, restoration of the Basque and Galician Statutes, and the transfer of suspected generals. José Antonio Primo de Rivera was imprisoned.