The Second Spanish Republic: Reforms and Conflicts (1931-1933)
The Dawn of the Republic and the Constitution of 1931
On April 12, 1931, municipal elections resulted in a victory for Republicans and Socialists. Alcalá Zamora proclaimed the Second Republic on April 14, initiating a project of modernization and democratization. The Revolutionary Committee, born from the Pact of San Sebastián, became the provisional government. Its primary goal was convening a Constituent Cortes to draft Spain’s first republican constitution (1931) and initiate reforms. This period, known as the first Republican biennium, saw the implementation of significant reforms (religious, educational, labor, land, and agricultural) coinciding with the global crisis of 1929. These reforms faced strong opposition from both the right and left, leading to a crisis within the Republican-Socialist coalition and new elections in 1933, which resulted in a center-right victory.
The Constituent Cortes, led by Luis Jiménez de Asua, drafted the constitution, a compromise between Socialists and Left Republicans. It defined Spain as “a democratic republic of workers of all kinds” and included a broad statement of rights and freedoms, including women’s suffrage, civil marriage and divorce, and free and compulsory primary education. While recognizing private property, it allowed for expropriation for social utility with compensation and the possibility of nationalizing certain economic sectors. The constitution established a clear division of legislative, executive, and judicial powers, with a strong unicameral parliament. The head of state was the president, and the judiciary was based on the autonomy and independence of judges and courts. A jury system and a Constitutional Court were also introduced.
Key debates within the Constituent Cortes centered on women’s suffrage, territorial organization, and the religious issue. The approval of the Statute of Nuria by the Generalitat of Catalonia sparked debate on territorial organization, with the Republican-Socialist coalition seeking a compromise. The most contentious debate revolved around the separation of church and state, leading to the resignation of Alcalá Zamora and Maura. The constitution declared freedom of worship, eliminated state funding for the Church, forbade religious congregations from engaging in education, trade, and industry, and dissolved the Society of Jesus. The lack of consensus among political forces weakened the constitution from its inception.
The Reform Biennium (1931-1933)
Following the constitution’s approval, Alcalá Zamora tasked Azaña with forming a government. Azaña opted for an alliance of Left Republicans and Socialists. While the provisional government had initiated some reforms, the first biennium saw genuine policy changes.
Religious Reforms
The government aimed to separate church and state and reduce the Church’s influence. The 1932 Divorce Act and the 1933 Law of Confessions and Religious Congregations, which closed religious schools and ended state contributions to the Church, were seen by Catholic sectors as anti-clerical persecution.
Educational and Cultural Reforms
The government sought to make free and secular education a universal right. Around 13,000 schools were built, the number of teachers increased significantly, and the number of high schools doubled. The education budget rose from 5.5% to 7% of the total. Libraries in primary schools multiplied, and educational missions promoted culture in rural areas.
Labor Reforms
Largo Caballero, the labor minister, introduced laws to improve working conditions and strengthen workers’ organizations. The Employment Contracts Act regulated working hours, the work of women and children, and mandated written contracts with a minimum two-year duration. The Jurados Act created bodies of workers and employers for conciliation and arbitration, with authority to set working conditions, wages, and layoffs. The Workers Association Act regulated trade unions.
Autonomy Statute
The autonomy statute aimed to address the aspirations of regions with nationalist sentiments. The Statute of Nuria in Catalonia sparked intense debate, with opposition from the Radical Party and some Socialists. Azaña’s defense secured its approval, albeit with significant cuts. Regional institutions gained exclusive jurisdiction in civil and administrative law, secondary education, transport, and health and social services, but their self-financing capacity was limited. The Basque statute faced internal disagreements and was not approved until 1936.
Agrarian Reform
Agrarian reform was the most complex project. Spanish agriculture was archaic, with low productivity, abundant cheap labor, and an inefficient land ownership structure. Small properties dominated in the north, while large estates prevailed in the south and center, leading to rural poverty. The international economic crisis further impacted agriculture. The 1932 Basic Law of Agrarian Reform aimed to modernize agriculture, end landlordism, and redistribute land to peasants. However, technical complexity, a meager budget, political divisions, and opposition from landowners led to its failure, resulting in anarchist insurrections.
Anarchism and the Right’s Reaction
The CNT and FAI, advocating libertarian anarchism, engaged in strikes and insurrections. The government responded with the Defense of the Republic Act, leading to bloody episodes like Castilblanco and Arnedo. The Casas Viejas events of 1933 saw violent confrontations between the CNT and law enforcement. The conservative right comprised monarchists seeking to overthrow the republic by force and Catholic right-wing groups aiming to change the republic through electoral means. The Spanish Confederation of Autonomous Rights (CEDA), founded in 1933, defended religion, family, order, and property.
The Crisis of the Biennium
By 1933, the Azaña government faced pressure from employers, strikes by the CNT, opposition from the Radical Party, cracks within the coalition, and disagreements with the president. The rise of the Radicals and CEDA led Alcalá Zamora to force Azaña’s resignation and call for new elections in November 1933.
Conclusion
The Second Republic, a key moment in Spanish history, aimed for democratization and modernization but ultimately led to civil war. The reforms of the biennium, while ambitious, largely failed due to various factors, including political divisions, economic crisis, and social unrest.