The Second Spanish Republic: Counter-Reformation and Popular Front
The Second Spanish Republic: 1931-1936
On April 14, 1931, the Second Spanish Republic was proclaimed. The Republicans had won the municipal elections in the provincial capitals and major cities. The reason was the deep crisis of the Restoration. The reformist biennium ended with the victory of the right in the elections of 1933. The Counter-Reformation Biennium was marked by a succession of governments with little parliamentary stability, due to their desire to review the reformist biennium reforms and the social and political polarization of the country.
Counter-Reformation Biennium (1933-1935)
The parties that had formed the Republic no longer held the majority. The CEDA (Confederación Española de Derechas Autónomas) did not form a government but won the largest number of deputies, although Lerroux supported the government to review the reforms of the previous biennium. Women participated for the first time. The earlier reforms were revised or suspended:
- Lock of Agrarian Reform.
- Cessation of autonomous development.
- Pardon to those convicted of the Sanjurjada (failed coup attempt in 1932).
- Overturned the labor reforms.
- They changed the policy and approached the Vatican.
These actions were viewed by some within the government as contrary to Republican principles. When they canceled the labor reforms, fights were formed between workers and managers, especially in the countryside. The UGT (Unión General de Trabajadores) called a general strike, which was suppressed harshly. The possibility that the CEDA might enter the government provoked fear on the left, as they believed its project was to end the Republic. Three Lerroux appointed ministers, and then the Socialists went on strike and made an announcement.
- Madrid, Basque Country, and Andalusia: The incidence was low.
- Asturias: There was a real insurrection, as the UGT and the CNT (Confederación Nacional del Trabajo) were united. The objective was the seizure of power in order to continue making reforms. It triumphed in the mining areas. The government brought in African troops, led by Franco, who staged a crackdown on insurgents and civilians.
- Catalonia: There was the Culture Contracts Act. There was a general strike that pitted the army against the Mossos d’Esquadra (Catalan police).
The defeat of labor was used by employers to worsen working conditions and by the government to tighten its counter-reformation policy.
The End of the Counter-Reformation Biennium
A series of scandals sank the Radical Party. Alcalá Zamora tried to create some failed management governments. In the elections of February 16, the following were presented:
- The right, led by Gil Robles.
- The Popular Front, formed by all the leftist parties except the Anarchists.
The Popular Front won, and that led some military officers and Gil Robles to consider declaring a state of war to prevent the winners from taking power.
The Government of the Popular Front (1936)
The Republican parties formed a government headed by Azaña, who then replaced Alcalá Zamora as president of the Republic:
- He pardoned political prisoners.
- He restored the autonomy of Catalonia and boosted that of the Basque Country and Galicia.
- He re-established labor laws.
- He pushed land reform.
The right decided to support the military coup that would prevent them from losing their traditional power and privileges. The Spanish Falange carried out the “dialectic of fists and guns.” Lieutenant Castillo was killed, followed by the assassination of Calvo Sotelo. This environment of chaos was used to justify military intervention.
The coup began in Morocco on July 17 and spread to the peninsula on July 18. Its victory led to the dictatorship of Franco.