Spanish Second Republic: Reforms of the Biennium
Biennium Reforms (1931-1933)
Between December 1931 and September 1933, the government, headed by Manuel Azaña and composed mostly of Left Republicans and Socialists, urged a reform program, begun in the constitutional period, with the goal of modernizing and democratizing Spanish society.
The Religious Question
One of the primary goals of the Republic was to limit the influence of the Church and secularize Spanish society. This was reflected in the Constitution, which provided for a non-denominational state, allowed divorce, and guaranteed freedom of worship. The Congregations Act in May 1933 limited the possession of goods by religious orders. In May 1931, convents and religious buildings were burned in several cities, such as Madrid and Seville. The hostile attitude of Cardinal Segura, the protesting archbishop of Toledo, prompted the government to order his expulsion from Spanish territory.
Modernization of the Army
The Republican government was convinced that the army needed a profound transformation. Manuel Azaña pushed a reform intended to create a modern, professional army. To this end, the Law of Withdrawn Journal (1931) stated that all serving officers should pledge their commitment to the Republic. Subsequently, the Assault Guards, a force of public order loyal to the Republic, were created. The reform, which consisted of reducing military expenditures, was welcomed by some sectors but seen by others, particularly those in Africa, as an assault on military tradition and military power. The right used this discontent to encourage the military revolt against the Republic.
Agrarian Reform
The reform of agriculture was the largest project undertaken by the Republic. It was intended to end the dominance of landlordism and improve the living conditions of poor farmers (laborers). A first series of decrees established the prohibition to terminate leases and the obligation of landowners to put land suitable for cultivation under cultivation.
The true reform was the development of an Agrarian Reform Law, which consisted of modernizing agriculture and permitted the expropriation without compensation of land from one part of the nobility (the grandees of Spain), while land that was poorly cultivated could be expropriated, compensating its owners. The implementation of this law was entrusted to the Institute of Agrarian Reform, but the initial results were limited. The reasons for this failure included the complexity of the law itself, its slowness, and a lack of budget. Implementation of the Agrarian Reform Act resulted in a significant increase in social tension.
State Reform
The configuration of a state that would allow regions with nationalist sentiments to have their own organization and gain autonomy was an outstanding issue in Spanish politics.
In Catalonia, on April 14, 1931, F. Macià proclaimed the Catalan Republic. Talks between the interim government of the Republic and Catalan political leaders allowed the annulment of this decision in exchange for the formation of a provisional autonomous government (Generalitat), whose first task would be to draft a Statute of Autonomy. In the first Parliament elections, Catalan Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya won, and Francesc Macià was elected president of the Generalitat.
In the Basque Country, PNV and Carlist Nationalists approved a draft statute (Statute of Estella) in June 1931. However, its adoption was delayed because of opposition from the Republican wing and left-wing Socialists.
Educational and Cultural Reform
Another important reform was that of teaching. The primary objective was to promote a liberal and secular education. It attempted to end the hegemony of religious education and adopt a mixed model of school: secular, compulsory, and free.
Republican leaders were convinced of the need to improve the cultural level of the population and make culture a right for most. Educational Missions were calls to rural libraries, choirs, lectures, movies, and theater groups such as La Barraca.
Labor Reforms
A socialist, Francisco Largo Caballero, began a series of reforms to improve labor conditions. The Employment Contracts Act, which regulated collective bargaining, and the Jurados Act, with the power of binding arbitration pursuant to an agreement, were passed. The working week was set at 40 hours, and wage growth was stimulated.