The Second Spanish Republic: 1931–1936 Political Eras
The Constitution of 1931 and the Second Republic
Following the proclamation of the Republic, elections for the Constituent Cortes were held on June 28, 1931. Although the text of the Constitution was not entirely consensual, the Cortes were chosen by a near majority of the left-leaning parties. The main objective of the 1931 Constitution was to create a democratic political system with a socialist ideology. Notably, it established a precedent for regional autonomy, a concept later reflected in the Constitution of 1978.
The Reformist Biennium (1931–1933)
The Reformist Biennium was led by the left, with Niceto Alcalá Zamora serving as President of the Republic and Manuel Azaña as Head of Government. This period focused on implementing significant structural changes:
Military Reform and the Sanjurjo Coup
The government pursued a civilian approach to the state, aiming to separate the military from political life. This involved eliminating unnecessary functions and continuing with the Law of Retirement (Azaña’s Law). This reform caused official displeasure within the military, leading to the coup d’état led by General Sanjurjo in August 1932. The coup failed due to a lack of popular support, though it was backed by landowners. The image of the monarchy and the clergy, who did not support the coup, remained impaired.
Agrarian Reform: Goals and Failures
The Agrarian Reform Law was established in September 1932 with the goal of eliminating large landholdings (latifundia) and distributing land to the peasants. However, due to poor organization, the reform was largely a failure. It produced widespread discontent among farmers, leading to violent actions, such as the events in Casas Viejas (Cádiz).
Statutory Autonomy: The Catalan Generalitat
The Constitution of 1931 allowed for Statutes of Autonomy. Catalonia established its administrative and political autonomy in 1932, organizing a system similar to that of the state, known as the Generalitat. This body included a President, a Parliament, and an Executive Council. Francesc Macià was the first president.
Religious Reform and Secularization
The aim of this reform was to distance religion from the social life of the state, as the Church was viewed as an antonym of modernization. Key measures included:
- The Law of Religious Congregations, which stripped religious orders of their property.
- Ending the participation of religious orders in education.
- Adopting freedom of worship.
- Establishing civil marriages, divorces, and civil burials.
End of the Reformist Period
The government resigned on September 8, 1933, triggering new elections in November 1933. For the first time, women were able to vote. The elections resulted in the victory of two center-right groups: the Radical Party, led by Alejandro Lerroux, and the CEDA (Spanish Confederation of Autonomous Rights), led by José María Gil Robles. The CEDA won the most seats, but the Radical Party formed the government.
The Radical-CEDA Biennium (1933–1936)
The first action of the Radical-CEDA government was to halt and reverse the reforms of the previous biennium. This counter-reformist agenda included:
- Implementing a counter-agrarian policy, which led to the 1935 Farm Bill. The land system became one of the key triggers for the problems leading to the Civil War.
- Placing right-wing military officials in key positions.
- Paralyzing the labor reforms established by the previous government.
- Failing to sign the Basque Statute of Autonomy.
This biennium was marked by increasing peasant unrest. The UGT and CNT organized revolutionary strikes on October 5, 1934, concentrated primarily in the mining area of Asturias. The uprising was ended through severe repression.
The 1936 Elections and the Popular Front
Following the resignation of Alejandro Lerroux, elections were held on February 16, 1936. The Popular Front, a coalition of leftist parties, achieved victory. Their objective was to carry out the reforms proposed during the first biennium. However, social radicalization intensified rapidly:
- Right-wing sectors were increasingly unhappy with the Republic.
- The CNT and UGT organized street violence against the Falange, leading to widespread street clashes.
Political Polarization and the Catalyst for War
Disgruntled generals and civilians organized in support of a military coup. The immediate catalyst for the uprising was a series of political assassinations: Lieutenant Castillo was assassinated on July 12, 1936, and in retaliation, the right-wing leader José Calvo Sotelo was assassinated a day later. This violence led directly to the military uprising on July 17, 1936, marking the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War.