Spain’s Second Republic: From Reform to Revolution (1933-1936)
The Second Spanish Republic (1933-1936): A Period of Instability
This period, though spanning only three years (1933-1936), witnessed significant political and social upheaval. The 1933 general election, held under a new electoral law promoting alliances and featuring women’s suffrage for the first time, resulted in a center-right victory. The government, formed by the Radical Party led by Alejandro Lerroux and the right-wing CEDA led by José María Gil-Robles, aimed to revise the Constitution and social legislation enacted during the preceding two years. This reversal of reforms sparked unrest, culminating in the 1934 revolution.
The 1933 Elections and Their Aftermath
The November 1933 elections took place in a highly charged atmosphere. The CEDA sought support from Catholic sectors, emphasizing order and religion. Left-wing parties, including the Socialists and anarchists, expressed revolutionary intentions. Primo de Rivera founded the Falange, a fascist-inspired party. The CEDA’s victory led to the reversal of previous reforms, including land redistribution, religious legislation, and the release of those involved in the 1932 Sanjurjo coup attempt. This sparked divisions within Parliament and between the parties supporting and opposing the Republic.
Radical Party Governments and Growing Tensions
The Radical Party governments, in coalition with centrist and Republican parties and supported by the CEDA, undid many of the previous reforms. They halted the implementation of laws affecting religious congregations, allowed Catholic schools to continue operating, and ensured salaries for priests. They also empowered employers over trade unions, annulled municipal laws, and returned confiscated land to the aristocracy. An amnesty law allowed the reintegration of generals involved in the 1932 coup attempt. These actions further divided the political landscape, leading to the formation of the Republican Union and the Republican Left. The Radical governments faced resistance from landowners who disregarded labor regulations and lowered wages, leading to a general strike in rural areas. Conflict also arose with the Catalan government over the Law of Contracts for Cultivation.
The 1934 Revolution
In October 1934, a revolution erupted. The UGT, under Largo Caballero’s leadership, pursued a revolutionary program, allying with the PSOE to combat fascism and establish a socialist federal republic. The CNT did not participate. The CEDA’s demand for greater governmental control to suppress leftist movements further fueled the situation. The Socialists justified their actions as necessary to prevent Gil Robles from dismantling the Republic through legal means. Largo Caballero’s call for a general strike received limited support. In Catalonia, Lluís Companys declared a Catalan State within a Spanish Federal Republic, backed by leftist unions. Asturias witnessed a significant social revolution, with communists, the UGT, and the CNT forming a coalition. The government responded by deploying the army and the Civil Guard. Catalan autonomy was suspended, and the Law of Contracts for Cultivation was overturned. Lerroux formed a government with numerous CEDA ministers, abolishing social and labor reforms, including the Agrarian Reform Law. Key military positions were filled with anti-Azaña figures. Emilio Mola became army chief in Morocco, and Francisco Franco became chief of staff. The CEDA planned constitutional reform, but a corruption scandal within the Radical Party led to a political crisis.
The Popular Front and the Path to Civil War
Following the crisis, President Alcalá-Zamora dissolved Parliament. The February 1936 elections were won by the Popular Front, a coalition of leftist parties. Their primary goal was to halt the fascist movement. They declared a general amnesty, restored Catalan autonomy, and resumed social, religious, and military reforms. Agrarian reform was accelerated, leading to land expropriations and occupations of large estates. Manuel Azaña replaced Alcalá-Zamora as president and formed a government led by Santiago Casares Quiroga. The government faced an economic crisis marked by rising prices, declining production, and increasing unemployment. Political violence escalated, fueled by various factions, including the PSOE and CEDA. José Antonio Primo de Rivera was arrested, and Falange offices were closed. Franco was sent to the Canary Islands, and Mola to Navarre. A group of generals, supported by monarchists, Carlists, and Falange militias, planned a coup. The assassination of Calvo Sotelo accelerated the process. The coup’s failure led to the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War.
In Conclusion
The period from 1933 to 1936 was marked by intense political polarization, social unrest, and ultimately, the descent into civil war. The center-right governments attempted to dismantle previous reforms, while the Popular Front sought to address social and economic inequalities. The failure of democratic processes and the rise of extremist ideologies paved the way for the devastating conflict that followed.