The Second Spanish Republic: A History (1931-1936)
The Second Spanish Republic (1931-1936)
I. The End of the Monarchy
In January 1930, after the fall of Primo de Rivera’s dictatorship, King Alfonso XIII appointed General Dámaso Berenguer as Prime Minister, with instructions to return to the constitutional path. Berenguer’s government, known as the “soft dictatorship,” implemented reforms too slowly for the turbulent social and political climate, which demanded the king’s abdication to fulfill aspirations for change. In 1930, anti-monarchy forces (republicans, anarchists, and nationalists) met in San Sebastián and signed the Pact of San Sebastián, forming a Revolutionary Committee chaired by Niceto Alcalá Zamora. This committee aimed to overthrow the monarchy and establish a republic. In December 1930, Captain Fermín Galán led a failed military uprising in Jaca to proclaim the Second Republic, resulting in his execution. When political parties refused to participate in general elections called by General Berenguer, he resigned. The new government, headed by Admiral Aznar, convened elections. The results surprised everyone: Republicans won in provincial capitals and major cities, while monarchists won in other districts. Aznar famously remarked, “Spain is a country that goes to bed royal and wakes up Republican.”
II. Proclamation of the Second Republic
On April 14, 1931, the Republic was proclaimed in Eibar, and the Republican flag was raised. In Barcelona, Francesc Macià proclaimed the Catalan State within a Federal Spanish Republic. Count Romanones informed the Council of Ministers of an agreement with the Revolutionary Committee for a peaceful transfer of power. On April 14, Alcalá Zamora, President of the Provisional Government, officially proclaimed the Second Spanish Republic in Madrid. Alfonso XIII abdicated and fled Spain.
III. The Provisional Government and the Constituent Cortes
The Provisional Government announced the transformation of the state into a more modern, secular, and democratic one. The Republic faced several challenges:
- Catalan Issue: Macià’s proclamation of a Catalan republic within a federal framework challenged the Provisional Government and risked a military reaction. Macià dissolved his republic in exchange for the promise of an Autonomy Statute.
- Church Issue: Cardinal Segura’s letter warning Catholics against the Republic and praising Alfonso XIII led to his expulsion.
- Royalist Issue: Monarchist provocations in Madrid triggered attacks on religious buildings and the monarchist newspaper ABC. The government’s initial passivity led to similar incidents in other cities, resulting in Maura’s resignation, martial law, and arrests.
The Provisional Government initiated reforms:
- Land Reform: The Municipal Boundaries Law prioritized local laborers, and the Forced Cultivation Act required landowners to cultivate their land properly.
- Education Reform: Aimed to create a public, secular, free, and compulsory education system to combat illiteracy.
- Military Reform: Led by Minister of War Manuel Azaña (the “Azaña Law”), it aimed to modernize the army, gain officer loyalty, and reorganize military academies.
The Provisional Government called elections for a Constituent Assembly to draft a new constitution. The Socialist-Republican coalition won. The Constituent Cortes confirmed Alcalá Zamora as President. Debates on autonomy, women’s suffrage, and religious issues led to the resignations of Prime Minister Alcalá Zamora and Minister Maura. Manuel Azaña became the new Prime Minister and enacted the Law for the Defense of the Republic, granting the government greater powers and suspending press censorship.
The 1931 Constitution
Adopted on December 9, 1931, the Constitution defined Spain as a “democratic republic of workers.” It established a secular state with a unicameral parliament (Congress of Deputies), elected by universal suffrage. It included a comprehensive bill of rights and freedoms, popular sovereignty, and the right to autonomy for regions. The Constitution addressed the “religious question” by separating church and state and guaranteeing freedom of conscience and worship. It also subordinated private ownership of the means of production to the national economy’s interests.
IV. The Reformist Biennium (December 1931 – November 1933)
Alcalá Zamora was appointed the first President of the Second Republic, and Manuel Azaña became Prime Minister. The government continued the reforms:
- Social Reforms: Socialist Largo Caballero promoted measures like increased salaries, minimum wage, an 8-hour workday, and compulsory health insurance.
- Military Reforms: Azaña continued his military reforms, abolishing the army’s ecclesiastical body and creating the Assault Guards.
- Religious Question: The government implemented secularization measures, including dissolving the Society of Jesus, secularizing cemeteries, legalizing divorce, and regulating religious congregations.
- Education Reform: The government expanded public education, facing resistance from religious orders.
Tensions arose between the UGT and CNT, and anarchist uprisings, like the one in Casas Viejas, were brutally suppressed. The rise of the right, including the CEDA led by José María Gil-Robles and the Falange Española led by José Antonio Primo de Rivera, further complicated the political landscape.
V. The Conservative Biennium (November 1933 – February 1936)
The center-right CEDA and the Radical Party won the 1933 elections. Lerroux formed a government with CEDA’s support, initiating a period of coalition governments. The CEDA sought to reverse previous reforms. Key measures included amnesty for those involved in the Sanjurjada uprising, limiting agrarian reform, and suspending the Basque Country’s autonomy statute.
The October 1934 Revolution
The CEDA’s entry into the government triggered a general strike in October 1934. The uprising was largely unsuccessful but notable in Catalonia and Asturias:
- Catalonia: Lluís Companys, President of the Generalitat, proclaimed a Catalan State within a Federal Spanish Republic. General Batet suppressed the rebellion.
- Asturias: Workers controlled the region for two weeks, proclaiming a Socialist Revolution. General Franco led the military operation to crush the insurrection.
The government’s response to the uprising strengthened the right, and political radicalization intensified.
VI. The Popular Front Government (February – July 1936)
The left formed the Popular Front, uniting socialists, communists, republicans, and anarchists. The Popular Front won the 1936 elections. Azaña’s new government implemented the Popular Front’s program, including amnesty for political prisoners, reinstatement of dismissed workers, and intensification of land and educational reforms. Azaña sent generals suspected of conspiracy to positions away from Madrid. The government struggled to control civil unrest and political radicalization. Street violence escalated, culminating in the banning of Falange militias and the imprisonment of their leaders. After the assassination of Lieutenant Castillo and José Calvo Sotelo, the military coup began in Melilla on July 17, 1936, marking the start of the Spanish Civil War.
VII. Conclusions
The Second Spanish Republic tragically ended with the Civil War (1936–1939). Democratic forces attempted to modernize Spain’s social and political structures, but the weakness of the republican bourgeoisie, conservative opposition, and radicalization of both the left and right ultimately led to its demise.