The Second Spanish Republic: Reforms, Achievements, and Challenges
The Second Spanish Republic: 1931-1936
14.2 (Part 1): The Constitution of 1931 and the Biennium Reformista
Rise of the Republic
During the Restoration, the republican movement posed a minimal threat to the Spanish monarchy. However, the failure of Primo de Rivera’s dictatorship paved the way for republican resurgence. In 1926, Republicans Azaña and Lerroux formed the Alianza Republicana. By 1930, they forged the Pact of San Sebastián with socialists and Catalan nationalists to overthrow King Alfonso XIII. A subsequent agreement with the PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party) led to the formation of a provisional government, with Alcalá Zamora as President and Largo Caballero as Minister of Labor.
Following Primo de Rivera’s resignation in 1930, the Berenguer and Aznar governments struggled to restore stability. Alfonso XIII’s association with the dictatorship had eroded his legitimacy. The provisional government staged a failed coup in Jaca, leading to arrests. Municipal elections in April 1931 saw republican victories in major cities. Facing potential unrest, Alfonso XIII chose exile, and the Second Republic was proclaimed on April 14, 1931.
Policy Reforms and Cultural Achievements
The provisional government implemented significant reforms. Largo Caballero introduced mixed agricultural juries, while Azaña tackled army reform by offering officers retirement or allegiance to the new regime. The Statute of Núria, granting autonomy to Catalonia, was drafted and approved via referendum.
The government’s anticlerical stance, rooted in the liberal republican tradition, led to the end of compulsory religious education and the burning of convents. This sparked conflict with the Catholic Church. The June 1931 elections resulted in a victory for the ruling coalition, with the PSOE securing the most votes. Azaña became Prime Minister, ushering in the Biennium Reformista (Two Years of Reform).
The Constitution of 1931
Constitutional debates exposed divisions within the coalition. Alcalá Zamora favored a moderate approach, while the Socialist Jimenez de Asua led the constitutional commission. Key debates revolved around regional autonomy and the role of religion. The Constitution granted women’s suffrage (championed by Clara Campoamor), separated church and state, dissolved the Jesuit order, and prohibited religious orders from teaching.
The Constitution established a framework for regional autonomy, enshrined a comprehensive bill of rights, allowed for the dissolution of parliament by the president, created a unicameral parliament (Cortes), and introduced universal suffrage. It also established a Court of Constitutional Guarantees.
Azaña’s Reforms and Challenges
Azaña’s leftist government pursued a vigorous reform agenda: promoting public and secular education, democratizing the army, implementing Catalan autonomy, and reforming land ownership. The Agrarian Reform Law, aimed at redistributing land to peasants, faced strong opposition from the right, leading to violence and strikes. Its eventual adoption failed to satisfy the peasantry.
The government dissolved the Society of Jesus and passed the Law of Confessions and Religious Congregations, suspending public subsidies to the Catholic Church and closing religious schools (except seminaries). Teacher training programs and school construction were accelerated to fill the educational gap. Educational missions were dispatched to spread culture among the poor. The introduction of divorce law further fueled anti-republican sentiment among Catholics.
The Statute of Catalonia (September 1932), granting limited autonomy, was perceived by some military figures as a threat to national unity. General Sanjurjo’s conservative uprising in August 1932 failed due to lack of support. The period also witnessed anarchist insurrections, prompting the government to create the Assault Guard. The Casas Viejas tragedy in January 1933, involving the deaths of CNT (National Confederation of Labor) members during a confrontation with the Civil Guard, damaged Azaña’s credibility. Alcalá Zamora forced his resignation in September 1933.
The 1933 Elections and the Rise of the Right
The November 1933 elections saw a shift in the political landscape. The CEDA (Spanish Confederation of Autonomous Right-wing Groups), a Catholic-conservative coalition led by Gil-Robles, emerged victorious. Conservatives played a significant role during the Second Republic, with intellectuals like Manuel Azaña and Julian Besteiro belonging to the cultural sphere. Others, such as Ortega y Gasset, Antonio Machado, and Gregorio Marañón, openly supported the Republic through the Association for the Service of the Republic. However, this support gradually waned.
Cultural Flourishing
The Generation of ’27, a group of exceptional poets including Dámaso Alonso, Luis Cernuda, Vicente Aleixandre, Rafael Alberti, Pedro Salinas, Jorge Guillén, Gerardo Diego, Miguel Hernández, and Federico García Lorca, rose to prominence during the Republic. The Residencia de Estudiantes (Student Residence) in Madrid and the University served as vital intellectual hubs.