The Tumultuous Second Republic: Political Crisis and Revolution in Spain
The left wing was determined to avoid settling. The CEDA (Spanish Confederation of Autonomous Right-wing Groups) decided to cause a radical government crisis. The mobilization in Asturias became an insurrection, a revolutionary weapon. Workers dismissed the authorities, and after heavy fighting against the army, a socialist revolution ensued. The motion failed in Madrid due to the deployment of troops and the arrest of the main leaders. The revolution in Catalonia triumphed, but the army regained control within days, making it total. To combat the revolution, the government empowered Franco to bring in troops, resulting in a harsh October with thousands of deaths.
Second stage of the biennium: The government continued its radical CEDA program. It decreed the suspension of the Statute of Catalonia, approving a land reform law that was essentially a counter-reform. All these reforms were promoted by a weak government in permanent crisis. The Radical Party was a hostage of the CEDA. The CEDA was weakened, and the National Bloc and monarchists, led by groups like Calvo Sotelo, defended a fascist authoritarian state and began exploring the possibility of a military coup. The left called for the dissolution of the courts and new elections to save the republic. The government crisis erupted in October due to bribery of officials, which authorized a casino. The scandal brought about the collapse of Lerroux and radical leaders, and the government called new elections.
The Right Biennium: Radical Party Government and Rectification Program
The government of the Radical Party implemented a program of rectification. Lerroux formed a government exclusively with members of the Radical Party. The CEDA stayed away, as the radicals needed them to govern. This shift caused tension and a ministerial crisis. Land reform was paralyzed, stopping the process of land distribution to peasants. Freedom of contract and wage determination were decreed, allowing landowners to regain control of many towns. Military reform stopped, and the military was placed in key positions, some of whom were Republicans and openly opposed the government. An amnesty was approved for participants in the coup. Religious and educational policy suffered setbacks, favoring the clergy. Statutes of autonomy were blocked, and a conflict arose over a bill submitted by the PNV (Basque Nationalist Party) and the Generalitat of Catalonia (Lluís Companys) regarding tenant rights.
Radicalization Policy
The country became polarized between left and right, with the CEDA gaining power among the middle classes under the leadership of Gil Robles. His youth militia acted as a totalitarian force. After the Republican electoral failure, Azana’s environment was reconstructed. The radical labor movement, led by the PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party), started preparing for a revolution in case the CEDA took office. At the head of the Catalan Esquerra (Republican Left of Catalonia) were nationalists following the central government. Lluís Companys’ leadership was instrumental in turning the party to the left.
The Revolution of 1934
The UGT (General Union of Workers) organized a general strike to protest the peasant land reform, as the possible entry of the CEDA was identified with the triumph of fascism.