The Second Spanish Republic: A Tumultuous Journey
1.2. Stages of the Second Spanish Republic
The actions of the various political parties unfolded throughout the different stages of the Second Spanish Republic, alternating in power and influence.
1.2.1. First Stage: Provisional Government (1931)
A provisional government, chaired by Niceto Alcalá Zamora, a conservative Republican, was formed. It comprised a coalition of centrist and right-wing political forces, along with some socialists, but excluded the PCE (Communist Party of Spain) and Esquerra (Republican Left of Catalonia).
The Provisional Government’s objectives were:
- To convene Constituent Cortes (parliamentary assembly) to replace the existing Constitution of 1876, enacted under Antonio Cánovas del Castillo, in order to legitimize the new political order. Left-wing parties achieved significant success in these elections.
- To initiate a series of reforms that addressed the aspirations of both the bourgeoisie and the working class, encompassing education, the military, church-state relations, regional autonomy, and, most importantly, land reform.
In December 1931, the Constitution of 1931 was promulgated, establishing a democratic, secular, and progressive framework for the Republic.
Once a stable government was formed, Alcalá Zamora stepped down as Prime Minister and was elected President by the Congress. Manuel Azaña was subsequently elected Prime Minister.
1.2.2. Second Stage: Biennium of Reform (1931-1933)
During this stage, Alcalá Zamora continued as President, with Azaña as Prime Minister. The government focused on implementing the reforms initiated in the previous stage, but encountered several challenges:
- Economic Crisis: A severe economic crisis gripped the country, leading to social unrest, particularly in rural areas. Notable events during this period include the incidents at Castilblanco (Badajoz, 1931) and Casas Viejas (Cádiz, 1933).
- Sanjurjo’s Uprising: General Sanjurjo, Director of the Guardia Civil (Civil Guard), launched a failed coup attempt in August 1932.
- Opposition from Right and Left: Both right-wing and left-wing groups expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s reforms, particularly the limited impact of land reform.
In this context, right-wing parties began to coalesce, forming the CEDA (Spanish Confederation of the Autonomous Right) led by José María Gil Robles, the Traditionalist Communion (Carlists), and the Falange Española (Spanish Phalanx) under José Antonio Primo de Rivera.
Due to declining support in local elections, Manuel Azaña resigned as Prime Minister. Alcalá Zamora dissolved the Cortes and called for new elections in 1933, the first held under his legitimate presidency.
Right-wing parties, running in coalition, won the 1933 elections.
1.2.3. Third Stage: Radical-CEDA Biennium (1933-1936)
Following the elections, President Alcalá Zamora was tasked with appointing a new Prime Minister. Although the CEDA had emerged as the largest party, he opted to appoint Alejandro Lerroux, leader of the Radical Republican Party, to avoid potential unrest.
The most significant policy during this period was the suspension of the previous government’s reforms. The new government opposed the secularization of the state, legislated the return of expropriated land under the agrarian reform, and granted amnesty to participants in the 1932 anti-Republican uprising led by General Sanjurjo.
Several problems arose during this stage:
- Economic Crisis and Unemployment: The suspension of reforms exacerbated the economic crisis and led to rising unemployment.
- Social Tension and the October Revolution: Left-wing groups, feeling marginalized, organized protests and strikes, culminating in the October Revolution of 1934. Catalonia and Asturias, particularly the coal mining region, were the main centers of unrest. In Barcelona, there were calls for a Federal Republic. The government responded with force, bombing affected areas and arresting Esquerra leaders. In Asturias, the Spanish Legion, under the command of Francisco Franco and General Eduardo López Ochoa, intervened to suppress the uprising. The events resulted in approximately 1,000 deaths, 2,000 injuries, and 30,000 arrests.
- Corruption Scandal: The Straperlo affair, a corruption scandal, became public, leading to the resignation of Alejandro Lerroux.
Following Lerroux’s resignation, President Alcalá Zamora appointed Ricardo Samper as Prime Minister, who soon resigned due to his inability to control the escalating political confrontation and social unrest. Subsequently, Joaquín Chapaprieta was appointed, but he also resigned due to similar challenges.
In light of the ongoing instability, Alcalá Zamora dissolved the Cortes and called for new elections in 1936, amidst a climate of heightened tension and violence. Left-wing parties united under the Popular Front, led by Azaña, which included the PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party), UGT (General Union of Workers), PCE, POUM (Workers’ Party of Marxist Unification), and Izquierda Republicana (Republican Left). The CNT (National Confederation of Labor), an anarchist trade union, also recommended participation in the elections.
The Popular Front emerged victorious in the 1936 elections, which were marred by irregularities and contested by right-wing parties.
Before the second round of elections could take place, the left-wing parties and some right-wing factions accused Alcalá Zamora of unnecessarily calling for new elections and moved to remove him from office under Article 81 of the Constitution. The Congress subsequently appointed Azaña as President.
1.2.4. Fourth Stage: Popular Front Government (February 1936)
Azaña appointed Santiago Casares Quiroga as Prime Minister, who resigned shortly after, on July 18, 1936.
The Popular Front government’s primary focus was the resumption of reforms, particularly agrarian reform. However, it faced significant challenges:
- Intensified Social Conflict: Violence and political tension escalated, culminating in the arrest of José Antonio Primo de Rivera.
- Deepening Political Polarization: Political forces became increasingly entrenched in their opposing positions.
- Political Assassinations: Several high-profile assassinations occurred, most notably those of Lieutenant José Castillo (a member of the Assault Guard, a Republican police force) and José Calvo Sotelo (a prominent monarchist politician) on July 13, 1936.
Calvo Sotelo’s assassination sparked outrage, and on July 17, 1936, a military uprising led by Francisco Franco, among other officers, began in Melilla, Spanish Morocco. The uprising spread to mainland Spain the following day, marking the beginning of the Spanish Civil War.