The Second Spanish Republic (1931-1939)

Posted on Oct 20, 2024 in History

The Second Republic

The Second Republic was the first trial of mass democracy in the history of Spain. It constituted an ambitious attempt at political modernization and tried to adapt its legislative and institutional framework to the accelerated social and economic changes between 1910 and 1930. This period ended in a bloody Civil War in Spain.

The republican regime emerged after the 1931 elections, which resulted in the removal of Alfonso XIII of Spain and the proclamation of a new regime. The provisional government of the Second Republic was composed of members of the Revolutionary Committee formed after the Pact of San Sebastian.

The provisional government was made up of various political groups, including:

  • Former monarchists, highlighting Niceto Alcalá-Zamora and Miguel Maura.
  • Republican moderates and intellectuals, with Manuel Azaña at the head.
  • Regionalist or moderate nationalists.
  • Socialists.

The Constitution of 1931

The new government called for new elections in 1931 to give legitimacy to the republican regime. The coalition parties largely won, with the PSOE acquiring great importance. The Cortes (parliament) were devoted to discussing the text of the future Constitution, which established a democratic, parliamentary, secular, and decentralized state that contained the social function of property.

Its key features were:

  • Popular sovereignty in the new Spanish state.
  • Universal male and female suffrage.
  • Extensive declaration of rights and liberties.
  • Separation of state powers into legislative, executive, and judicial branches.
  • Establishment of the first statutes of autonomy.
  • Separation of church and state.

The Reform Biennium (1931-1933)

Also called the Social-Biennium, the government underwent two major changes. Articles of the constitution relating to the religious question were approved, which caused the resignation of Alcalá-Zamora and Miguel Maura. The Radical Party refused to continue working with the Socialists, which led to the resignation of Socialist government ministers. Alcalá-Zamora was elected President of the Republic, while Azaña held the presidency of the government.

Among the reforms, we find:

  • Land reform: Aimed to carry out a redistribution of agrarian property. Adopted in 1932, it caused large opposition among the peasantry, thus interrupting the process until 1934.
  • Labor reform: Started from the Ministry of Labour by the Socialist Largo Caballero, who favored the position of workers and trade unions. Employers opposed the measures taken, which included the Contracts Act and the Mixed Juries Act.
  • Rural reforms: Altered the social order in the countryside.
  • Military reform: Sought to secure the loyalty of the Army to the new republican regime and promote the reduction of the excessive number of officers. It demanded the oath of allegiance to the new Republican regime, allowing those who refused to opt for early retirement with full pay.
  • Separation of church and state: Through the construction of a secular state independent of the Church.
  • Educational reform: Characterized by a comprehensive program of school construction, teacher recruitment, and mixed education. Religion ceased to be a compulsory subject, and crucifixes were removed from schools.

In 1931, the Statute of Núria was drafted and approved in 1932. Macià became President of the Generalitat of Catalonia until his death in 1933, when he was succeeded by Lluís Companys. The economic crisis, the radical line favored by the CNT, and the refusal of employers to the reforms led to a framework of social tensions. Clashes between strikers and the Guardia Civil were frequent.

Conservative forces resorted to the traditional method of military insurrection. General Sanjurjo attempted a military coup in 1932. The “Sanjurjada,” poorly prepared and with mixed support in the army, failed. As a reaction, the Parliament passed the Agrarian Reform Law and the Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia. Despite the failure, the Republican-Socialist government gave clear signs of wear. In this harsh environment, the government took the decision to call new elections in November 1933.

The right was reorganized, with illiberal right-wing groups such as:

  • CEDA, led by José María Gil-Robles, the majority group supported by the Catholic Church.
  • Spanish Renewal, headed by José Calvo Sotelo, which pooled Alfonsine monarchists.
  • The Spanish Falange, the Spanish version of fascism, led by José Antonio Primo de Rivera, son of the dictator.
  • The Carlists.

The elections resulted in the victory of conservative groups, which was answered by an anarchist insurrection.

The Radical-CEDA Biennium (1933-1936)

This period arose after the 1933 elections in which center and right-wing candidates triumphed. It is known by its detractors as the “Black Biennium.”

Its key features were:

  • Difficulty in forming stable governments.
  • The Radicals who supported the government faced two problems: internal division and a series of corruption scandals.
  • The governments of this stage were devoted to curbing or repealing the measures of the previous biennium.
  • The UGT called a general strike, which ended with harsh repression.
  • Regional development was forgotten.
  • The original reform attempts foundered due to lack of support.

The Revolution of 1934

The entrance of three CEDA ministers in the government was interpreted by the Socialists as a surrender of the Republic to the hands of their enemies, which led to the outbreak of a revolution. This movement had the support of the Generalitat of Catalonia, the PCE, and the CNT, and was reduced to a political general strike in large cities. There were attempts at armed insurrection by Socialist militias, which took place in Asturias.

The worst consequences of the revolution are summarized in:

  • The Church judged the movement as an anti-Spanish and Catholic insurrection.
  • Labor organizations suffered severe repression, and after that, many employers took advantage of this situation and moved closer to the positions of the center-right.
  • Azaña became a political martyr and created the Republican Left party.

The 1936 Elections

In this period, the Republican Left and Republican Union, together with the PSOE, the UGT, the PCE, the POUM, and the anti-union FAI, signed the Popular Front pact. The victory went to the Popular Front, which constituted an election platform with a minimum and hardly revolutionary program.

After the elections, Manuel Azaña was appointed President of the Republic.

The Popular Front

Around 1936, different events occurred:

  • Governments were formed exclusively by Republicans, led by Azaña and subsequently by Casares Quiroga.
  • The most important political decisions were the granting of amnesty, the reinstatement of workers who suffered reprisals, and the restoration of the Reform Biennium program, among others.
  • The Socialists did not participate in government.
  • There was a strike wave in Madrid, among other measures.