Spanish Republic 1931-1936: Reforms, Tensions, and the Popular Front
The Second Spanish Republic (1931-1936)
Provisional Government
President Alcalá Zamora was a leading liberal of the Derecha Liberal Republicana. He pushed for military reform, improved the working conditions of laborers, promoted education, and confronted the Church. This period concluded with the approval of the Constitution of 1931.
Reformist Biennium (1931-1933)
This period was characterized by further reforms of the interim period:
- Military Reform (failed)
- Territorial Reform
- Land Reform: The basic law for land reform also failed.
- Religious Reformation: This created many enemies for the Republic.
Tension sought by the Left: Strikes and uprisings of workers and peasants.
Tension sought by the Right: Boycotts, resistance to reforms, and provocation of the workers’ government. There was high mobilization of anarchist and communist unions. The government suppressed strikes.
The Right restructured around Popular Action, and the JONS also appeared. On the Left were the CNT and the PCE.
Conflicts were compounded by the expulsion of the Society of Jesus, discussion of land reform, autonomy, and the status of the Catalan Right. There was opposition by Catholics and monarchists, and some military coups, including Sanjurjo’s attempted coup, which failed, resulting in a death sentence.
The discussion of the “Act” of Churches and convents, and Congregations as public property ceded to the Church, forbade teaching practice. The PSOE and the PCE were on the right, and the CNT was founded. In CEDA, José Antonio founded the Spanish Falange, which joined the JONS in the October elections. There was a center-right victory.
Radical-CEDA Biennium (1933-1936)
A series of measures were taken to dismantle the previous reforms. This period can be divided into:
- As of October 1934: Radical government
- From 1934 to February 1936: Radical-CEDA government. The Catalan autonomy statute was suspended for a few days. There was an armed insurrection by the CNT, and the agrarian reform movement failed. The government decreed freedom of contract and fixation of wages (employers abused this). Military reform was stopped. The secularization process of schools and cultural extension was paralyzed.
The country was polarized:
- Right: JONS, Spanish Falange, Spanish Renewal, CEDA, JAP, Radical Party
- Left: Republican Left, Republican Union, PSOE, PCE
There was a confrontation in the courts in October 1934, incidents at the university, and strikes. Between 1934 and 1936, Lerroux signed pardons for the leaders of Asturian workers. Two blocks formed for the 1936 elections:
- National Bloc
- The other: Republican Union, CNT
The Straperlo scandal ultimately dissolved the courts, and elections were called.
Election of 1936 and the Popular Front
Popular Front: A union of left-wing parties, including the Communist Party. The right was divided. The outcome of the 1936 elections was that the Popular Front won an absolute majority with 59% of the seats. The first government was formed only by Republicans; there were no Socialists or Communists. Four days later, amnesty was decreed for the protagonists of the 1934 revolution, and the Catalan autonomy statute was restored. Zamora was dismissed by Congress, and Azaña was elected.
In the spring of 1936, there were violent clashes between the left and right.
The Constitution of 1931
The drafting of a new constitution was the first task of the deputies. After the election of the camera, Julián Besteiro, a moderate socialist, was elected president. The new law imposed the dissolution of religious orders that were considered a danger and a budget to the clergy. In protest against these measures, the deputies from the right left Congress while Alcalá Zamora resigned from his positions in the government.
With the constitution adopted on December 9, 1931, Spain became a democratic, secular state with a single chamber and a responsible government with universal suffrage. The new constitution defined a strong central state, but to solve the regional problems, autonomy statutes were enacted. Alcalá Zamora was elected by Congress as President of the Republic and confirmed Manuel Azaña as head of government.