The Second Spanish Republic (1931-1936): Rise and Fall
The Second Spanish Republic (1931-1936)
1. Proclamation of the Republic and the Constituent Assembly
1.1 Crisis of the Monarchy
A revolutionary movement, designed to bring down the monarchy, proclaimed the Republic. Seeing widespread opposition, Alfonso XIII replaced Head of Government General Berenguer with Admiral Aznar. The new Head of Government was tasked with convening elections, announced for April 12th.
1.2 Proclamation of the Republic
The April 12, 1931, elections became a referendum on the monarchy. The results were contradictory. More monarchist councilors were elected overall, but Republicans won clearly in large cities. This sparked euphoria and public opinion favored immediate change.
On April 14th, the Second Republic was proclaimed, first in the Basque town of Eibar, then in Barcelona. Opposition to the monarchy in Barcelona had led to the creation of Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC) in March 1931, led by Francesc Macià and Lluís Companys. Macià proclaimed the Republic from the Barcelona City Hall balcony, and also proclaimed a Catalan Republic within an Iberian Federation of Republics, unleashing popular euphoria.
News reached Madrid quickly. In the afternoon, people gathered in the city center, eventually forming a revolutionary committee that went to Puerta del Sol and proclaimed the Spanish Republic. The king quietly left Madrid for Cartagena, where ships awaited to take him into exile.
1.3 Opening of a Constitutional Process
The revolutionary committee became the Provisional Government of the Republic, under President Niceto Alcalá-Zamora, tasked with convening general elections for a Constituent Assembly.
Elections were held on June 28th with favorable results for the Republican-Socialist coalition. They drafted a constitution, adopted on December 9, 1931. It included provisions for regional autonomy, and advanced individual and collective rights, including separation of Church and State. This was opposed by more conservative sectors.
2. The Reformist Biennium (1931-1933)
2.1 Consolidation of the Republic
Political divisions between left and right emerged. The new regime enjoyed wide support from the working class and trade unions, including the CNT’s political wing. Niceto Alcalá-Zamora commissioned Manuel Azaña to form a new government, which relied on support from Republicans and left-wing Socialists.
2.2 Reformist Policies
Four key reforms were undertaken:
- Military Reform: Believing the army’s influence could threaten the Republic, Azaña proposed reforms to reduce its size, modernize officer training, and limit its autonomy and budget. This met strong resistance, culminating in General Sanjurjo’s uprising.
- Religious-Political Reform: The establishment of secularism, legal recognition of civil marriage and divorce, and controls on religious education led to a backlash from the Church hierarchy.
- Land Reform: Large estates were to be expropriated without compensation, but the reform’s results were limited due to slow implementation.
- Autonomous Reform: Macià’s proclamation of the Catalan Republic led to the establishment of a provisional Catalan government. They created a statute, known as the Statute of Núria, approved in 1932.
2.3 Crisis of the Left
Growing tension arose among the masses due to the economic crisis and unfulfilled promises of reform.
Within the CNT, radical elements gained influence, with the Iberian Anarchist Federation (FAI) becoming more prominent. Socialists also gradually radicalized.
The right capitalized on these situations, strengthening their position. The fascist-inspired Falange party was created by José Antonio Primo de Rivera, son of the former dictator. The Radical Party of Lerroux and the Spanish Confederation of Autonomous Right-wing Groups (CEDA), led by José María Gil-Robles, also gained prominence.
This tense political climate led to the announcement of general elections for November 1933.