The Second Spanish Republic: Reforms and Tensions (1931-1936)

Posted on Mar 14, 2025 in History

The Proclamation of the Republic (1932)

In 1932, the Republic was proclaimed in Spain, with a provisional government presided over by Alcalá-Zamora. This government was formed by the Pact of San Sebastian. During this period, the government of the Republic was led by center-left forces. The provisional government called parliamentary elections and implemented reforms in four key areas: agriculture, education, the military, and the Church.

Key Reforms of the Provisional Government

  • Agriculture: The government established an 8-hour workday and mandated that landowners prioritize local laborers for work on their estates. Landowners were required to maintain farmland if they employed these workers.
  • Education: Many new schools and teaching positions were created, and teacher salaries were increased.
  • Military: Generals, chiefs, and officers were offered the option to retire with full pay. This measure reduced the number of commanders and divisions, and some soldiers who no longer wished to be part of a Republican army left. Manuel Azaña closed the Military Academy of Zaragoza and annulled all promotions based on merit earned during the dictatorship, causing unrest within the military. He also created the Assault Guards, a Republican police force.
  • Church: The Vatican asked the bishops to respect the new regime, but two events hindered this. A pastoral letter from a Cardinal praising the king was not well-received by Republicans. Additionally, some young monarchists played the Royal March in the streets, leading to the burning of numerous convents.

The 1931 Constitution

The 1931 elections resulted in a victory for center-left forces, with the right becoming a minority. The elected representatives drafted a new Constitution in 1931. This constitution established:

  • Popular sovereignty
  • A single chamber (Chamber of Deputies)
  • A secular state
  • Individual rights
  • Autonomy and the possibility of self-governance for all regions that requested it.

The anticlericalism of the constitution stemmed from the Republicans’ view of the Church as responsible for the backwardness of Spanish society. It also introduced universal suffrage, including, for the first time, the right for women to vote.

The Azaña Government and Continued Reform

Niceto Alcalá Zamora, who was elected president, instructed Manuel Azaña to form a government. Azaña’s government continued the reforms of the provisional government. The Agrarian Reform Law placed a significant amount of land in state hands, but its distribution among the peasants was largely unsuccessful, causing disappointment. This reform also alarmed landowners, who considered it revolutionary.

During this period, in addition to opposition from Catholics, there was increased agitation among Andalusian peasants and an attempted monarchist coup led by General José Sanjurjo in 1932. The government was able to respond to these conflicts, but the short duration of this regime was becoming apparent.

The Statutes of Autonomy

The process of establishing autonomy statutes began in various regions:

  • Catalonia: The Catalan Republic, proclaimed by Francesc Macià, was repealed. Republican leaders agreed to draft a statute of autonomy for Catalonia.
  • Basque Country and Navarre: The process was more complex. The PNV (Basque Nationalist Party) accepted the Republic in exchange for political autonomy.
  • Other Regions: Projects for statutes in other regions, such as Aragon, Castile, Asturias, and Andalusia, did not begin until 1936.