Constans II and the Second Spanish Republic: 1931-1932
Constans II and the Second Spanish Republic: 1931
Secondary Politics and Context
On the morning of April 14, 1931, newly elected mayors of the town of Eibar were the first to proclaim the Second Spanish Republic. Throughout the day, this incident took place in many other Spanish cities. Alfonso XIII, forced by circumstances, decided to renounce the royal power and went that day into exile. The representatives of the parties that signed the Pact of San Sebastian immediately formed a provisional Republican government. That same day, April 14, the Ministry of the Government proclaimed the Second Republic.
The Provisional Government’s First Actions
The government’s first actions were to call for elections to the Constituent Assembly, set for June 28, and to take steps to address some of the most urgent problems. These included granting general amnesty to political prisoners and establishing its own legal status. During the following months, urgent actions were taken regarding the army, mostly Royalist, and the situation of farmers, to prevent the expulsion of those who could not afford the rents.
The Situation in Catalonia
Perhaps the most serious problem in the early days was the situation in Catalonia, where Francesc Macià, leader of Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya, unilaterally declared the Catalan Republic. This proclamation created a serious problem, since the agreements of San Sebastian stated that the new constitution would determine the new kind of state and the situation of different nationalities within it. President Alcalá Zamora went to Barcelona to ratify the agreement and ensure good faith between the Catalan government and the government of the Republic.
The Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia: 1932
The Path to Approval
In late June 1931, general elections were held for the Constituent Assembly. In Catalonia, it meant a great triumph for Esquerra Republicana. Francesc Macià presented the Statute of Autonomy in the courts of Madrid for discussion and subsequent approval. Outside Catalonia, some sectors were indignant against the claims of the Catalan people. Demonstrations, boycotts of Catalan products, and manifestos began, evidencing that the approval of the Statute would not be easy.
When the Constitution of 1931 was approved, it became apparent that these difficulties would persist because it prevented federation, imposed the officiality of Spanish, and generally cut the powers that Catalonia had claimed in the Statute. The parliamentary debate to approve the Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia was long and difficult. The discussions began in May, and three positions appeared:
- The central government, a moderate supporter of granting autonomy to Catalonia.
- Representatives of Catalonia, demanding wide autonomy.
- The opposition, advocating for a unified Spain.
Two factors positively influenced the approval of the Statute: the determined position of the head of government, Manuel Azaña, and the situation created following the attempted right-wing coup by General Sanjurjo. This threat made the Republicans close ranks upon realizing the real enemies of the Republic, and an important part of the chamber adopted the Statute of Autonomy on September 9, 1932.
Key Innovations of the 1931 Constitution
The Constitution of 1931 was fairly advanced for its time, with a strong democratic and progressive character. This is especially evident in the preliminary title, which defines Spain as “a democratic republic of workers of all kinds that is organized in a regime of freedom and justice” and establishes that all powers emanate from the people. Also in the preliminary title, the state was set to be comprehensive and therefore gave up the possibility of self-government. The constitution presented a bill of rights and freedoms and a genuine concern for social issues. It established universal suffrage for all over 23 years of age and therefore extended the vote to women. Finally, it clearly established a secular state, declaring no religion as official and recognizing civil marriage and divorce.