The Second Spanish Republic: A Tumultuous Journey
The Second Spanish Republic
The Interim Government
The interim government aimed to include a broad representation of the Republic’s political landscape. Three main groups emerged: the monarchist right, the extreme left, and the Basque nationalists.
The Church strongly opposed the Republic, primarily due to its secular nature and the abolishment of the monarchy. Cardinal Segura viewed the Republic as an anti-clerical regime. This sentiment fueled strong anti-clericalism, leading to violence against the Church. Niceto Alcalá Zamora, the provisional president, did not utilize the Civil Guard to protect Church interests. The Provisional Government echoed the concerns of prominent Church officials, escalating tensions with the Vatican.
The provisional government called for elections to form a Constituent Assembly. The left and center parties, including the PSOE, won the elections. The right-wing parties faced challenges due to their disorganization and identification with the monarchy.
The 1931 Constitution
This constitution defined Spain as a socialist republic of workers. It was a progressive document, declaring that all power emanates from the people. National symbols, including the flag, coat of arms, and anthem, were changed.
State Structure
The constitution recognized the division of powers:
- The President of the Republic held the highest office, but it was largely symbolic.
- Legislative power resided in a unicameral Congress, elected by direct, universal, and secret suffrage.
- Executive power was held by the Prime Minister and their ministers.
- Judicial power was exercised by independent judges and courts, with the Supreme Court as the highest court.
The constitution also established the use of juries in certain legal proceedings. It was not a consensus document, reflecting the deep divisions within Spanish society.
The Republic granted women the right to vote. The left generally opposed this measure, while the right supported it. Ultimately, women’s suffrage was implemented.
The separation of Church and State created significant tension, leading to the legalization of civil marriage and divorce, and the declaration of Spain as a secular state.
Disagreements between the left and right regarding Catalan and Basque autonomy further highlighted the divide. Catalonia was quickly granted autonomy, while the Basque Country faced delays.
Political Parties and Trade Unions
Left-Wing Groups
- Center-left Republican parties and Catalan nationalist parties, primarily representing the petty bourgeoisie.
- The PSOE, which became the dominant left-wing party, but experienced internal divisions.
- Anarchist groups, prevalent among textile workers in Catalonia and landless peasants in Andalusia, united under the CNT. They sought a social revolution to dismantle political power and often engaged in violent protests against politicians and the Church. The FAI represented the most radical anarchist faction.
Right-Wing Groups
- Monarchist right, represented by Spanish Action (AE) and Spanish Renewal (RE). AE, despite its limited membership, held intellectual influence. RE, led by Calvo Sotelo, advocated for a military coup to restore the monarchy.
- The CEDA, led by Gil Robles, aimed to unite right-wing groups to win elections and reform the government.
- Extreme right groups, including the Carlist Traditionalist Communion, which was divided between those who supported the Carlist War and those aligned with Calvo Sotelo. The modern right, inspired by Mussolini, was represented by the Spanish Falange (FE), led by Primo de Rivera, and an even more extreme faction, JONS.
Periods of the Republic
The First Biennial (1931-1933)
Following the 1931 elections, the Republican-Socialist coalition, led by Prime Minister Manuel Azaña and President Alcalá Zamora, implemented numerous reforms:
- Catholic Church: Azaña’s aggressive secularization policies led to the expulsion of Church officials and strained relations with the Vatican.
- Military: Azaña addressed the army’s loyalty to the monarchy and the surplus of officers by allowing officers to retire with pay if they refused to swear allegiance to the Republic. He also closed military academies.
- Agriculture: Land confiscation, sometimes without compensation, aimed to redistribute land to the landless. However, this policy faced resistance from landowners and had limited success.
- State: Catalonia’s declaration of independence led to negotiations and the granting of self-government. Similar autonomy was later granted to the Basque Country.
- Education: A major focus was promoting secular, liberal education, expanding access to schools and libraries, increasing teacher salaries, and implementing coeducation.
- Labor: Largo Caballero, as Minister of Labor, introduced the Employment Contracts Act, regulating labor negotiations, and established the 40-hour workweek.
Problems of the Socialist-Republican Coalition
- Economic downturn: The global economic crisis exacerbated Spain’s existing economic woes and halted emigration to the Americas.
- Conflict with the extreme left: The slow pace of reforms led to worker discontent, strikes, and land occupations. Notable uprisings occurred in Castilblanco and Casas Viejas.
- Reorganization of the right: The Radical Party, led by Lerroux, gained strength, alongside the CEDA and RE. More extreme groups, like the Falange and JONS, engaged in street violence. A failed coup attempt by General Sanjurjo, who was later pardoned and fled to Lisbon, further destabilized the situation.
The Second Biennial (1933-1936)
The 1933 elections saw a shift in power to the right, with the CEDA winning a majority. This was partly due to increased women’s participation in the elections and divisions within the left. Despite the CEDA’s victory, the Radical Party, led by Lerroux, formed the government, with Alcalá Zamora remaining as president.
Reversal of Reforms
The new government attempted to roll back previous reforms, sparking renewed conflict in the countryside as landowners sought to regain lost influence. In Catalonia, the Law of Cultivated Lands benefited tenant farmers.
Secularization policies were reversed, and a budget for religious worship was approved. An amnesty was granted to those involved in the Sanjurjo coup.
The October 1934 Revolution
Lerroux, under pressure from the CEDA, took a hard line against strikes. The CEDA’s increasing influence and demands for key ministerial positions prompted a general strike by leftist groups, including the radical wing of the PSOE and the UGT, led by Largo Caballero. The strike aimed not only to overthrow the government but also to initiate a communist revolution.
- Asturias: The general strike escalated into a violent revolution, with miners seizing control of towns and implementing libertarian communism. The government deployed the Legion, led by General Franco, to suppress the uprising.
- Catalonia: A political revolution declared Catalan independence, but lacked popular support and was quickly quelled.
- Elsewhere: The revolution remained largely peaceful.
Crisis of the Second Biennial
Gil Robles consolidated power, appointing General Franco as Chief of the General Staff. His proposed constitutional reforms were deemed excessive by Lerroux and Alcalá Zamora, leading to further conflict. The Straperlo scandal, involving rigged casinos linked to Lerroux, further weakened the government. Alcalá Zamora dissolved the Cortes and called for new elections in January 1936.
The 1936 Elections and the Popular Front
The 1936 elections saw a victory for the left-wing Popular Front, a coalition united against the fragmented right. Manuel Azaña became President of the Republic, and Santiago Casares Quiroga was appointed Prime Minister.
The Popular Front Government
The Popular Front granted amnesty to those imprisoned after the October 1934 revolution and attempted to reinstate previous reforms. However, mass mobilization by leftist groups overwhelmed the government.
A group of generals, including Sanjurjo, Mola, and Franco, plotted a coup. Capitalists fled to Portugal, and anti-Popular Front sentiment grew among certain clergy. Groups like the Falange exploited the increasing chaos. The assassination of Lieutenant Castillo by Falangists and the subsequent retaliatory killing of Calvo Sotelo by assault guards further inflamed tensions. These events prompted the generals to launch their coup on July 17, 1936, marking the beginning of the Spanish Civil War.