Spain’s Second Republic: A Period of Transformation
The Second Spanish Republic
Proclamation of the Republic and the Constitutional Period
The Constitution of 1931
Elections in early summer (June 28, 1931) won the Republican-Socialist coalition (250 of 464 deputies).
The Reforms of the Biennium (1931 – 1933)
Modernization of the Army
The government believed the army needed profound change, aiming to create a professional and democratic force. They reduced the number of officers, offering retirement through the Retirement Act of Official, which applied to officers who pledged commitment to the republican regime.
Land Reform
The government declared the 8-hour day and prioritized local workers for employment on farms. Owners were required to cultivate all land if they wanted workers to continue its usufruct.
Reform of the Centralized State
A priority in Spanish politics was configuring a state that allowed regions with nationalist sentiments to have their own autonomy and access to organization.
Educational and Cultural Work
In 1930, Spain had approximately seven million illiterate citizens (33% of the population). The objective was to promote a liberal and secular education, making the state the guarantor of the right to education. The project aimed to increase the number of schools and teachers, particularly in rural communities.
Labor Reforms
The Socialist Largo Caballero, from the Ministry of Labour, initiated a series of reforms aimed at improving working conditions. He passed the Law on Labor Contracts, regulating collective bargaining, and the Mixed Jury, which recognized the power of binding arbitration in the event of disagreement between employers and workers.
Catalonia’s Autonomy
The Provisional Government and the Statute of Núria
Between June 10 and 20, an assembly of representatives from Catalan city councils met in Núria and completed a draft of the Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia. This project was approved by the Catalan people in a referendum held on August 2, 1931.
The Republican Generalitat
Approval of the Statute concluded the interim government stage. Parliamentary elections in Catalonia followed on November 20, 1932.
The Republican Political Parties in Catalonia
The Republican period led to a new structure of political parties in Catalonia, with Catalan nationalist parties gaining significant influence.
The Task of Government
Francesc Macià was elected President of the Government, a position he held until his death on December 25, 1933. He appointed a government composed entirely of members of his party.
Problems of the Republican-Socialist Coalition
An Unfavorable Economic Climate
The 1930s were a time of economic crisis, marked by the Great Depression that began in the United States in 1929.
Social Unrest
The impatience of many workers with the reforms and the disillusionment caused by the slow pace led to a wave of conflicts, exacerbated by the impact of unemployment.
The Conservative Biennium (1933 – 1935)
Elections of 1933: The Right-Wing Government
In 1933 (November), new general elections to Parliament resulted in a victory for center-right parties, leading to the dismantling of most of the previous reformist government’s work.
The Stoppage of Reforms
The new prime minister, Alejandro Lerroux, halted land reform and sought to counter the religious reform through budget allocation for worship and the clergy.
The Conflict in Catalonia
The main clash occurred following the issue of agriculture. The Catalan government approved a 50% reduction of income that rabassaires (tenant farmers of vineyards, grouped in the Union Rabassaires) paid to the owners.
The Crisis in the Second Biennium
The consequences of the October Revolution were significant. The influence of the CEDA government increased, the Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia was suspended, Gil Robles was appointed minister of war, and Franco became chief of staff.
The Triumph of the Popular Front
The Elections of February 1936
Throughout 1935, the Catalan nationalist parties on the left formed the Left Front, with an election platform based on political amnesty for those imprisoned since October 1934.