The Second Spanish Republic: Reforms and Challenges

The Second Spanish Republic: A Time of Change

The Second Spanish Republic was divided into three stages: the Biennium Reform, the CEDA, and the Popular Front, which ended with the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War.

The Pact of San Sebastian and the Rise of the Republic

In San Sebastian, the pact that gave rise to the Second Republic was formed. It was finally agreed with the Socialists to participate in a transitional Republican government chaired by Niceto Alcalá Zamora. The Republicans proposed to achieve regime change through a military-civilian uprising, which was planned for December. However, the insurrection of captains of the garrison of Jaca and the subsequent failed insurrection in Madrid delayed the process.

On April 14, 1931, municipal elections were held, giving victory to the Republic. Alfonso XIII went into exile, and a provisional Cortes was called. The new provisional government was composed of members of the Pact of San Sebastian (Alcalá Zamora, Alejandro Lerroux, Largo Caballero, and Manuel Azaña). Many reforms were carried out:

  • Social Reform: Led by Largo Caballero, it established the eight-hour workday and implemented the Mixed Juries Act.
  • Army Reform: Azaña introduced the Retirement Act (schemes for early retirement) and created the Assault Guards.
  • Economic Reform: Acceptance of the Catalan Generalitat led by Francesc Macià (Republican Esquerra).
  • Public Policy: Notable events included the burning of convents and the first general strikes, especially by the CNT.

The 1931 Constitution

In parallel, the Constitution was adopted in December 1931, proclaiming Spain a democratic republic of workers of all kinds. It marked the recognition of:

  • Voting rights for women
  • Popular sovereignty
  • A new division of powers, with a clear preponderance of the legislature

The Cortes became unicameral (Congress of Deputies), and a Court of Constitutional Guarantees was established. This document also gave rise to the separation of church and state, resulting in a secular society characterized by freedom of religion, civil marriage, a ban on teaching by religious orders, and the suppression of the Society of Jesus. It thus formed an integral state, compatible with autonomy. Alcalá Zamora became the president, and Azaña became the head of government.

The Biennium Reform: Azaña’s Government

The government of Azaña (Biennium Reform) pursued a policy of reforms intended to substantially transform the structures of state and society. Many of them failed, favoring opposition from rightist groups that felt threatened, as well as unions and farmers who considered them insufficient.

Agrarian Reform

The agrarian problem was aroused by the unequal distribution of land ownership. The aim was to increase productivity and improve this distribution, for which the Agrarian Reform Law was approved in 1932. The result was strong opposition from landlords in some regions, slow bureaucracy of the Institute of Agrarian Reform (Casas Viejas), and contradictions in the political direction of the reform.

Regional Politics

In regional politics, the Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia was approved in 1932, and Esquerra Republicana won the first regional elections. The Statute of the Basque Country would be approved in 1936, and other regions such as Galicia and Valencia started their projects but did not adopt them.

Secularization Policy

In terms of secularization, the government ordered the dissolution of the Jesuits and passed a law abolishing state subsidies to the church, ordering the closure of Catholic schools.

The Fall of the Biennium Reform

The fall of the Biennium Reform had several causes:

  • A difficult economic situation resulting from the global crisis.
  • The rebellion of General José Sanjurjo (the Sanjurjada), aiming to dislodge the Left from power.
  • Largo Caballero pushed legislation favorable to workers, which posed government intervention in labor relations and was rejected by the CNT.

The CNT, along with the FAI, promoted two uprisings against Azaña, but they were soon quelled. The worst case of repression took place in January 1933 when some peasants of the village of Casas Viejas in Cadiz joined the second of the aforementioned anarchist insurrections. After suppressing the uprising, police shot thirteen peasants, and Azaña’s prestige suffered a blow.

The Black Biennium

With the call for new elections in 1933, the reformist feat ended since the victory went to the Spanish Confederation of Autonomous Rights (CEDA). Opponents of this new period called it the Black Biennium.