Spain’s Agrarian Problem: Second Republic Political History
The Agrarian Problem in Spain: Historical Context
This document, likely a political-economic-social analysis, illustrates the economic and social situation of society and the emergence of new policies. Dating from 1939, it is a secondary source, published six years after the events it describes.
The core subject is The Agrarian Problem. A law on agrarian reform was created for three main reasons:
- Spain remained a country of low agricultural yields.
- Fifty percent of the active population was rural.
- Southern Spain endured a situation of misery and unemployment.
The reform represented a major frustration for farmers due to delays in drafting the law. Its application was abolished by the agrarian counter-reform law during the ‘Two Black Years’ and set aside in areas under rebel control during the Civil War.
Document Analysis: Political, Economic, Social
At this time, Alfonso XIII ruled Spain (king until the proclamation of the Second Republic). During his reign, Spain, stunned by the Disaster of ’98, experienced enormous economic, social, and political failures, as well as cultural stagnation. With the Dictatorship of Primo de Rivera, the King aimed to restore democratic normalcy and regenerate the regime.
A prominent political figure was Manuel Azaña. A Spanish writer and politician, he served as President of the Government during Spain’s Second Republic. As President, his objectives included approving the constitution, creating the agrarian law, and establishing a law for the defense of the Republic. The onset of World War I led Azaña to support the Allies and engage in various activities. The coup d’état by Primo de Rivera was a critical moment in his political career.
The text is addressed to the people, aiming to improve their living conditions and economic well-being.
Historical Context: Post-Primo de Rivera
This period follows the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera. Alfonso XIII accepted his resignation because the dictator had lost not only the monarch’s confidence but also the support of military and economic sectors. Then came the government of General Berenguer, through which the king intended to return the state to normalcy after the 1923 coup and prevent the monarchy’s disintegration. These plans were unsuccessful.
The Second Republic: 1931 Elections
The elections called by the provisional government were to decide the continuation or abolition of the monarchy. The triumph of Republican-Socialist candidates led to the proclamation of the Second Republic, with a provisional government led by Niceto Alcalá-Zamora. Although monarchists received votes in many rural areas, the success of republican forces and the king’s departure facilitated the regime change.
Key Reforms of the Republican Constitution
The introduction of the Republican Constitution meant the loss of political power for those who had traditionally held it. Elected members of the left managed to occupy most of the chamber. A new constitution was created, aiming to:
- Organize autonomous regions.
- Carry out expropriations.
- Recognize divorce.
- Grant women the right to vote.
- Eliminate the state budget for the clergy.
The Reformist Biennium (Left-Wing Government)
Manuel Azaña presided over a government composed of Republican and PSOE ministers. The left implemented the agrarian reform law, affecting territories depressed by large landowners. Educational missions aimed to bring culture to different areas. The class struggle became externalized, and the events at Casas Viejas were a bloody episode.
The ‘Two Black Years’ (Right-Wing Government)
Factors that led to Azaña’s downfall included social unrest, the slow pace of reform, the repression at Casas Viejas, and the international crisis. Alejandro Lerroux formed a government in 1933, supported by the right, which sought to regain control of key power centers. In 1934, three militants from the CEDA were appointed ministers.
The Popular Front Victory (1936)
In 1935, the ‘Straperlo scandal‘ implicated the Radical Party, which had authorized the use of a rigged gambling machine in Spain. This scandal marked the end of the right-wing biennium, leading to new elections in 1936. The Popular Front won these elections, redirecting Spanish politics.