The Second Spanish Republic: From Reform to Revolution
The “Soft Dictatorship” of Damaso Berenguer
Following the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera, General Damaso Berenguer, a confidant of Alfonso XIII, attempted to restore constitutional normalcy. Governing by decrees, he aimed to quell social unrest caused by the 1929 stock market crash. Paradoxically, this “soft dictatorship” saw more politically motivated executions than its predecessor. Berenguer was replaced by Admiral Aznar in January 1931.
Social Unrest During the Reformist Biennium
The reformist biennium was marked by intense social conflict stemming from the economic crisis, rising unemployment, and the strength of organized labor. The CNT’s hostile attitude, along with that of employers and landlords, further fueled the unrest. Anarcho-syndicalists launched general strikes and insurrections, leading to incidents like the Casas Viejas uprising, where a peasant revolt resulted in the execution of 12 peasants by the Civil Guard.
Factors Influencing the 1933 Electoral Triumph of the Right
Several factors contributed to the right’s victory in 1933. The perceived failure of land reform led to the reunification of the right and alienated many farmers from the Republic. Peasant unrest and incidents like Casas Viejas, Castilblanco, and Arnedo further eroded support for the reformers. The relationship between socialists and left-wing republicans deteriorated. Large segments of the middle class shifted to the right, leading to the emergence of new forces like the CEDA and the Spanish Falange. The center-right consolidated around Lerroux’s Radical Party, attracting businessmen, industrialists, liberals, and some large landowners. These groups aligned with monarchists and Carlists.
The Revolutions of 1934: Catalonia and Asturias
Both Catalonia and Asturias saw armed insurrections against the Republic, organized by sections of the UGT and PSOE after the right’s electoral victory and the inclusion of CEDA ministers in the government. However, there were key differences. In Catalonia, the Generalitat government, led by Lluis Companys, joined the movement, proclaiming a Catalan State within a Federal Spanish Republic. The movement was quickly suppressed. In Asturias, where socialism had deep roots, socialists joined with anarchists and communists in a social revolution. Miners controlled the region for weeks, socializing production and eliminating money. General Franco’s army from Africa ultimately crushed the uprising, resulting in hundreds of deaths and severe repression.
Lluis Companys
Lluis Companys, a Catalan lawyer and leader of Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya, served as president of the Generalitat of Catalonia. After proclaiming a Catalan State in 1934, he was imprisoned. Released after being elected MP for the Popular Front in 1936, he resumed the presidency. Following the Civil War, he fled to France but was captured by the Gestapo, handed over to Spain, and executed.
The Constituent Cortes and the 1931 Constitution
The provisional government, formed after Alfonso XIII’s resignation, comprised a coalition of right-wing Catholic Republicans, center-left Republicans, socialists, and Catalan and Galician nationalists. The Pact of San Sebastián (August 1930) laid the groundwork for a constituent process to establish a republic and recognize Catalonia’s autonomy. The left, particularly the Republican-Socialist coalition, won a clear victory in the Constituent Cortes elections. The 1931 Constitution, considered very progressive for its time, sparked contentious debates, particularly regarding religion and regional autonomy.
Niceto Alcalá Zamora
Niceto Alcalá Zamora, the first president of the Second Republic, initially served as a Liberal Party minister during the Restoration. His opposition to Primo de Rivera’s dictatorship led him to advocate for a republic. He participated in the Pact of San Sebastián, chaired the provisional government, and resigned in 1931 due to his dissatisfaction with the Constitution’s articles on church-state separation.