Spanish History: Second Republic, Francoism, and Democracy
The Second Republic (1931-1936)
The Second Republic developed between 1931 and 1936. After the Republic was declared, an interim government was formed by Republicans and Socialists. In 1931, elections were held for the Cortes, giving victory to the governing alliance after the approval of the Constitution. The government consisted of left-wing Republicans and Socialists, excluding right-wing and center Republicans.
- 1931 Constitution: It defended the foundations of the system and territorial organization. It established popular sovereignty, the autonomy of municipalities and regions, the separation of Church and State, and the recognition of individual and social rights.
- Secularism and Limitation of the Church: The budget of the clergy was extinguished, and religious orders were banned from teaching and other activities.
- Reform of the Army: The purpose was to reorganize their units and reduce the number of officials. The Assault Guard was also created.
- Agrarian Reform: Land was expropriated with compensation to farmers, passing it to those who worked it to ease the lives of peasants.
- Educational Reform: Reducing illiteracy and improving the cultural level, thus increasing the number of schools, making secondary education compulsory, and adopting secularism.
- Catalan Autonomy: It allowed Catalonia to have the government of the Generalitat from 1932. In the Basque and Galician cases, differences between the political forces delayed the drafting of their statutes.
Franco Regime
- Franco, Caudillo of Spain: The dictator concentrated all powers of the state, counting on the support of the Church, the army, and a part of the population.
- A Monarchy Without a King: In 1947, Spain was set up as a kingdom, but it was not until 1969 that Juan Carlos de Borbón was determined to be Franco’s successor.
- National Unity and Centralism: Spain was considered as single and indivisible.
- National Catholicism: Catholicism was the official state religion, and all education and activities of Spaniards had to fit the guidelines of the Catholic Church.
- Unification of Forces in the National Movement: The only authorized political party, of which Franco was the top leader.
- Imposition of Vertical Unions: Class unions were banned, and compulsory membership of workers and bosses of the same activity in a single official union was imposed.
- Organic Democracy: Limitation of individual rights and subordination of women to men.
Pillars of the State
- Crown: Represented by the Chief of State. The Chief of the Army is also among its powers and rights.
- The Cortes: Represent the Spanish people and can exercise legislative power. It consists of two chambers: the Congress and the Senate. Deputies and representatives are chosen every four years.
- The Government: Exercises executive power and is formed by the President and Ministers. Governments change depending on parliamentary agreements and elections.
- The Judiciary: Justice emanates from the people and is administered on behalf of the King by judges and magistrates. The Constitutional Court and the Ombudsman are the highest levels of appeal.
Autonomous Communities Institutions
- Parliament: Legislative body elected by universal suffrage.
- Community Government: A collective body of executive power chaired by the President of the Community. The members vary according to the results of the elections.
- Supreme Court of Justice: The highest judicial body in the Community.
State Governments
- The Governments of UCD (1977-1982): Adolfo Suárez (1977-1981), replaced by Calvo Sotelo (1981-1982).
- PSOE (1982-1996): Felipe González.
- PP (1996-2004): José Maria Aznar.
- PSOE (2004-2011): José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.