The Second Spanish Republic: From Reform to Rupture (1931-1936)
The Fall of the Monarchy and the Birth of the Second Republic
Primo de Rivera’s Downfall
Primo de Rivera’s hostility towards Catalan autonomy and his favoritism towards the Church in university education sparked widespread social unrest. Lacking clear support, the dictator resigned on January 28, 1930, and went into exile, dying in Paris two months later. King Alfonso XIII then tasked General Dámaso Berenguer with forming a new government.
The Pact of San Sebastián and the Rise of Republicanism
In August 1930, representatives of major Republican and regionalist parties met and formed a united front against the monarchy through the Pact of San Sebastián. Berenguer was replaced in February 1931 by Admiral Juan Bautista Aznar, who called for immediate municipal, provincial, and general elections, allowing all parties to participate. The municipal elections of April 12 resulted in a resounding victory for Republicans and Socialists in urban areas. On April 13, the King, acknowledging the will of the people, suspended the exercise of royal power and left Spain. The Second Spanish Republic was proclaimed on April 14, 1931.
Socioeconomic Evolution (1902-1931)
The Rural World and its Challenges
Between 1898 and 1931, Spain remained largely agricultural, although the situation varied across the country. Agricultural labor decreased while productivity in certain areas increased, especially after 1914. Three main forms of land ownership existed: large estates (primarily in western Spain), smallholdings (dominant in Galicia and northern Spain), and medium-sized farms with short- or long-term rentals (common in the rest of the peninsula). This period saw a mix of wealthy landowners, sharecroppers, and laborers, many of whom were temporary and lived at subsistence level. Social unrest, particularly in rural Andalusia, led to violent conflicts between 1917 and 1920.
Industrial Development
Spanish industry underwent three key changes: the introduction of electricity, the concentration of heavy industry in the Basque Country, and sector diversification. Protectionist laws were also implemented. The Spanish labor movement was split between the socialist UGT and the anarchist CNT. Both unions grew significantly from the early 1900s until 1939. The anarchist movement was particularly strong in Catalonia, leading to the founding of the anarcho-syndicalist CNT in 1910. Social tension remained high, with employers using strikebreakers and lockouts, and the government often responding to labor disputes with military intervention.
Spanish Society
Spain’s slow population growth in the late 19th and early 20th centuries reflected its weak economic development. Social stratification mirrored the inequality of the Restoration period, with a small upper class (5%), a middle class (25-30%), and a large lower class (65%). Average life expectancy rose from 34.8 years in 1900 to around 50 years in 1930, partly due to the eradication of major epidemics. This era also witnessed the “Silver Age” of Spanish culture, marked by the Generation of ’98, the Generation of ’14, and significant contributions from intellectuals and writers.
The Second Republic: Political Developments (1931-1936)
The Constitution of 1931 and the Reformist Biennium (1931-1933)
Provisional Government (April 14 – June 28, 1931)
The provisional government, led by Niceto Alcalá Zamora, called for elections on June 28 and addressed pressing issues. They decreed an eight-hour workday, prioritized local laborers for land work, planned the construction of schools and libraries, increased teacher salaries, and offered early retirement to military officers to reduce their numbers. They also created the Assault Guards, a police force loyal to the Republic. The Church, initially expectant, soon became an opponent of the republican regime.
The 1931 Constitution
The June 28 elections, the most transparent in Spanish history, resulted in a victory for left and center parties. The Cortes drafted a new constitution, adopted on December 9, 1931. The constitution, particularly regarding religious matters, reflected a lack of compromise and introduced universal suffrage, including women’s suffrage for the first time.
The Constitutional Government (December 1931 – November 1933)
Alcalá Zamora was confirmed as President of the Republic, and Manuel Azaña was tasked with forming a government. Azaña’s government continued the reforms of the provisional government. The Agrarian Reform Law redistributed land to farmers. This period saw ideological agitation in rural Andalusia (1931-1933) and General José Sanjurjo’s attempted coup (August 10, 1932). On September 9, 1932, the Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia was approved, and Francesc Macià was elected President of the Generalitat of Catalonia. The process for Basque Country and Navarre was more complex. The PNV accepted the Republic, and the Statute of Autonomy for the Basque Country was approved in October 1936, with José Antonio Aguirre as its first Lehendakari.