The Second Spanish Republic (1931-1939)
The Fall of the Monarchy
Following Primo de Rivera’s resignation, King Alfonso XIII appointed Dámaso Berenguer as head of government. His task was challenging: to replace the liberal constitutional system with a dictatorship, effectively suspending it. The goal was to preserve the image of Alfonso XIII and prevent him from being held accountable for the military coup’s success, which led to six years of dictatorship. In early 1931, Berenguer was replaced by Admiral Aznar, who called for municipal elections on April 12th. Republican and Socialist candidates triumphed in major cities, leading Alfonso XIII to acknowledge the national will. However, the army retained its power, and the King left Spain on April 14th to avoid a bloody confrontation. The Second Republic was proclaimed on April 14, 1931, with a provisional government led by Niceto Alcalá Zamora.
The Building Blocks of the Second Republic
The foundation of the Second Republic’s political system rested on political parties. A multitude of parties emerged, including newly mobilized groups with vast numbers of members and supporters.
Political Forces
- Fascist Groups:
- Juntas de Ofensiva Nacional-Sindicalista (JONS), founded in 1931 by Ramiro Ledesma Ramos.
- Falange Española, founded in 1933 by José Antonio Primo de Rivera, son of the former dictator. This group remained small until its merger with JONS in 1934.
- Rightist Political Forces:
- Carlists: Traditionalist monarchists who rejected the Republic, organized by Conde de Rodezno. They formed paramilitary groups like the Requetés.
- Alfonsists: Monarchists loyal to Alfonso XIII.
- Confederación Española de Derechas Autónomas (CEDA): This group’s program focused on conservatism, defense of the Catholic Church, religious education, opposition to land reform, and rejection of Basque and Catalan autonomy. It was led by José María Gil Robles.
- Partido Republicano Radical: This party advocated for order, opposed the revolutionary labor movement, and aimed to limit socio-economic reforms. Its main support came from the middle and lower bourgeoisie, and it was led by Alejandro Lerroux.
- Proletarian Parties:
- Partido Socialista Obrero Español (PSOE), a powerful party with pro-Soviet leanings.
- Partido Comunista de España (PCE), a smaller communist party.
- Anarchists, who favored revolutionary upheaval and opposed rightist forces.
- Nationalist and Regional Parties:
- Partido Nacionalista Vasco (PNV), a conservative and Catholic party led by José Antonio Aguirre, who became the first Lehendakari (President) of the Basque Country in 1936.
- Partido Galeguista, a leftist and autonomist party.
- Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC), a Catalan republican party led by Francesc Macià and Lluís Companys.
The Constitution of 1931
In June 1931, elections were held with universal suffrage for both men and women. Republicans and Socialists won a majority. The new constitution aimed to establish a democratic republic, recognizing universal suffrage for the first time in Spanish history. The Republic was committed to democracy both internally and externally, becoming the first country to renounce war in its constitution, following the Briand-Kellogg Pact of 1928.
Main Features of the Constitution
- Suffrage: Universal suffrage for men and women was granted, despite opposition based on women’s economic dependence and illiteracy.
- Autonomy: The constitution allowed for regional autonomy on a case-by-case basis, enabling regions with shared historical and cultural characteristics to apply for autonomy.
- Religious Question: State funding for the Catholic Church was eliminated, and religious orders were prohibited from teaching. Only private worship was permitted.
- Citizen’s Rights: Individual rights were recognized for the first time, including social rights to work, education, healthcare, and decent housing.
- Property Rights: Private property rights were limited.
- Organization of Power: Legislative power resided in a unicameral parliament. The President served as head of state with a six-year term and reduced powers. A Constitutional Court was established to ensure the constitutionality of laws.
The Republican-Socialist Biennium (1931-1933)
A coalition government of left-wing Republicans and Socialists initiated a series of reforms to address Spain’s pressing issues.
Reforms
- Military Reform: Led by Manuel Azaña, this reform aimed to bring the army under civilian control and reduce the number of officers.
- Education Reform: Funding for education was increased, new schools were built, and secondary education was expanded.
- Land Reform: This reform had social, political, and economic objectives: to provide land to peasants, weaken the power of landowners, and increase agricultural production. The Agrarian Reform Law of 1932 faced strong opposition from right-wing parties representing landowners’ interests.
- Religious Reform: The Republic’s secular policies, including the separation of church and state, the recognition of divorce, and the abolition of mandatory religious education, created powerful enemies who viewed the Republic as an attack on religion.
The Right-Wing Biennium (1934-1936)
Following the right-wing electoral victory in November-December 1933, the CEDA and the Radical Party formed a government with the intention of reversing the reforms of the previous biennium.
Measures
- An amnesty law was passed, favoring monarchists.
- The agrarian reform process was blocked.
- Measures were taken against the Constitution, including the economic support of the Catholic clergy in rural areas.
- Public school construction was slowed down.
- Catalonia’s autonomy statute was suspended after the events of October 1934.
The October 1934 Revolution
An armed insurrection aimed at seizing power took place in October 1934. Communists, anarchists, and socialists participated, with the latter being the main driving force. The proletarian forces perceived the right-wing electoral victory of 1933 as the end of the Republic and opted for violent rebellion. They were also influenced by the rise of fascism in Europe. The disorganized rebellion began on October 5th with a general strike in the Basque Country and Madrid. Many cities were paralyzed for almost a week, with armed clashes between workers and law enforcement. In Asturias, well-armed miners took control of large areas. The rebellion was brutally suppressed by troops brought from Africa.
The Popular Front
The February 1936 elections saw a coalition of Republican, left-wing, and workers’ parties, known as the Popular Front, facing off against the right-wing parties. This coalition aimed to defeat the right-wing government. Manuel Azaña was appointed head of the new government, which implemented the following decisions:
- Amnesty and release of prisoners detained after the 1934 revolution.
- Restoration of Catalonia’s autonomy statute.
- Outlawing of the Falange and imprisonment of its leaders.
- Accelerated implementation of the agrarian reform law.
The government faced high unemployment, public disorder, and increasing political violence. Powerful socioeconomic groups and military leaders decided to overthrow the Republic through a coup to prevent further reforms that threatened their interests. The coup began on July 17, 1936, with the uprising of African military forces, marking the beginning of the Spanish Civil War.