Spain’s Second Republic: Reforms, Challenges, and Political Turmoil

Posted on Dec 10, 2024 in History

The Second Spanish Republic (1931-1933)

In 1931, following the victory of republican candidates in municipal elections, King Alfonso XIII abdicated and left the country. His position had been seriously undermined by his support for the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera (1923-1930). The Pact of San Sebastián, aiming to establish a provisional republican government, led to the convening of a Constituent Cortes. This assembly was responsible for approving a new Constitution and a statute of autonomy for Catalonia. The Second Republic attempted to solve Spain’s societal problems, undertaking a modernization project continuing the ideals of earlier regenerationists. The reforms were moderate but ultimately failed due to strong opposition from conservative forces, the rise of fascism, and the global economic crisis.

The Interim Government and the 1931 Constitution

The new interim government, headed by Niceto Alcalá Zamora, implemented measures to meet popular demands: an 8-hour working day, better wages, and municipal reforms. These measures, though moderate, aroused suspicion from some sectors. The Constituent Assembly elections on June 28 resulted in a victory for the Republican-Socialist coalition. This Cortes approved a new Constitution with a markedly progressive democratic character:

  1. It established popular sovereignty, defining Spain as “a democratic republic of workers of all kinds.”
  2. It included a comprehensive declaration of rights, including women’s suffrage, civil marriage, divorce, equality of legitimate and illegitimate children, and the subordination of private property to the public interest.
  3. The Cortes became the central institution of the state. The President of the Council of Ministers was under the control of the Cortes and the President of the Republic. The Cortes had the power to propose and the President had the power to veto the head of government. The judiciary was independent.
  4. Spain was constituted as an integral state, recognizing the autonomy of historical nationalities: Catalonia, Galicia, and the Basque Country.
  5. The Republic was defined as a secular state, separating church and state. The Church lost its economic privileges and the right to control education. Freedom of religion and civil jurisdiction over cemeteries were established.

The Constitution faced rejection from the right and the Church, particularly due to its treatment of religious matters. Women’s suffrage was also controversial, with some on the left fearing it would favor the right.

The Reform Biennium (December 1931 – November 1933)

After the Constitution’s approval, Alcalá Zamora was elected President of the Republic. Manuel Azaña, leader of Republican Action, headed a government composed of Republicans and Socialists. This government pursued a reform agenda:

  1. Labor Reforms: The Labor Minister pushed for the approval of the Contracts Act, organizing labor and collective bargaining, and the Mixed Juries Act, which mandated binding arbitration in labor disputes.
  2. Educational and Cultural Reforms: New schools were built, and the number and salaries of teachers were increased. The model was public, compulsory, and free education. The ban on religious orders teaching provoked opposition from the right and the Church, which forbade Catholics from enrolling their children in public schools. Initiatives like the Educational Missions and the popular theater group “La Barraca” aimed to bring culture to rural areas.
  3. Military Reform: This aimed to reduce the number of officers, modernize training and equipment, and prioritize merit-based promotions. Military service became mandatory, though those with means could pay to avoid it. The Military Academy of Zaragoza, directed by Franco, was closed, and promotions from the dictatorship era were annulled. The Assault Guards, a modern and loyal armed police force, were created.
  4. Agrarian Reform: This aimed to improve the living conditions of day laborers by expropriating and redistributing uncultivated land. The law did not initially provide compensation for expropriated lands, leading to landowner opposition and support for General Sanjurjo’s attempted coup in 1932.
  5. Public Works Plan: Launched by the Socialist Indalecio Prieto, this plan aimed to modernize infrastructure, boost the economy, and create jobs.
  6. Regional Autonomy: In 1932, the Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia was approved. Elections in Catalonia gave victory to the Esquerra Republicana, and Francesc Macià became President of the Generalitat. The Basque and Galician statutes faced more significant challenges and were not approved until 1936.

Opposition to the Government

The government faced opposition from both the propertied classes and the proletariat:

  • The Right: While some Republicans collaborated loyally, two sectors opposed the reforms:
    1. The undemocratic right supported Sanjurjo’s attempted coup and other actions aimed at subverting the regime.
    2. The “accidentalist” right, represented by the CEDA (a coalition of monarchists, traditionalists, and conservative Catholics led by José María Gil-Robles), accepted the Republic as a lesser evil while aiming to revise the Constitution. Their tactic was to wear down the ruling coalition by obstructing parliament.
  • The Working Classes: Some workers felt that agrarian reforms were too slow and limited. This fueled anti-government unrest, particularly within the CNT and FAI, which advocated for insurrection. This unrest contributed to undermining the government’s prestige.

The PSOE left the coalition government in 1933. After a failed attempt to form a new government, Alcalá Zamora called elections. The campaign highlighted the deep divisions in Spanish society. The right presented a program focused on revising the Constitution’s religious articles, suppressing agrarian reform, and granting amnesty to those involved in Sanjurjo’s coup. The election results favored the center-right and saw a defeat for the left, partly due to anarchist abstention. The new government was led by Alejandro Lerroux, leader of the Radical Party, marking the beginning of the Conservative Biennium. The reforms of the Provisional Government and Azaña’s government took place during a period of intense social polarization and rising anti-parliamentarism in Europe, ushering in a period of counter-reform.