The Second Spanish Republic: From Proclamation to Civil War
1. The Proclamation of the Republic and the Constitutional Period
The Revolutionary Committee formed a provisional government, involving:
- Liberal Republican Right (Maura and Niceto)
- Republican Left (Marcelino Manuel Azaña and Sunday)
- Radical Republicans (Lerroux and Diego Martinez)
- Socialists (Largo Caballero, Indalecio Prieto, and Fernando de los Rios)
- Catalan Nationalists (Nicolas D’Olme)
- Galician Republicans (Quiroga)
Reforms carried out by the Provisional Government on June 28, 1931:
Key Reforms under Largo Caballero:
- Land Reform: Labor and wage guarantees to farmers through labor reform.
- 8-Hour Workday: Implementation of the 8-hour workday.
- Military Reform: Military personnel were required to swear allegiance to the new republic.
- Educational Reform: Creation of new teaching positions and schools.
The Provisional Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia marked a significant victory for Republicans and Socialists.
1.2 The Constitution of 1931
Approved on December 9, it defined Spain as a “republic of workers of all kinds.” It granted women the right to vote and included social and cultural protections. However, it faced challenges regarding:
- Division of Powers
- Separation of Church and State
- New Territorial Organization
2. The Reformist Biennium (1931-1933)
2.1 Social Reforms
Led by Largo Caballero, these reforms aimed to improve working conditions through the “Law of Employment Contracts,” created new schools, hired more teachers with improved salaries, established universal education, and removed religion as a school subject, which angered the Church.
2.2 Military Reform
Reduced the number of general officers and modernized military training.
2.3 Land Reform
A crucial project of the Republic, it aimed to alleviate rural poverty and modernize the Spanish economy. While positive, it didn’t fully achieve its objectives.
2.4 Reform of the Central State
The Constitution of 1931 recognized the right to autonomy. An autonomy statute was approved for Catalonia in 1932, with leftist Republicans winning regional elections and Macià becoming President of the Generalitat. The Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) and Carlists approved a draft statute, facing Republican opposition. Galicia’s statute was adopted in June 1936.
2.5 Opposition to the Azaña Government
The army, led by Sanjurjo, attempted a coup in the summer of 1932. The massacre of peasants in Alcalá de Henares led President Zamora to appoint Lerroux and call for elections in November 1933.
3. The Center-Right Biennium (1933-1936)
Lerroux implemented reforms in his 1933 government.
3.1 The Stoppage of Reforms
Land redistribution was halted, and military reforms were also stopped. Educational and religious reforms were reversed, halting secularization efforts. The CEDA (Spanish Confederation of the Autonomous Right) hardened its opposition.
3.2 The October Revolution of 1934
CEDA’s entry into the government was perceived by the left as a step towards fascism. The formation of a government by the UGT (General Union of Workers) led to general strikes in cities, which largely failed, but were significant in Asturias and Catalonia.
3.3 The End of the Biennium
Due to the unrest, the left joined the government. Lerroux’s involvement in the “Straperlo scandal” led CEDA to demand Gil Robles as Prime Minister. This was denied, leading to elections in February 1936.
4. The Triumph of the Popular Front
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4.1-ELECTION FEBRUARY 36. There were parties grouped into 2 blocks: “The rightist coalition: to consist of the CEDA and the Nationalist bloc Monárquico.-The Popular Front: formed by Republican parties, regionalist, Socialists and Communists. Clearly won the popular front. But this was not accepted by the most reactionary sectors of society, while trade unions and workers’ parties demanded social reforms of the first Republican Biennium.4.2-THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE’S FRONT Azana was named president of the republic and Quiroga government, this government was a Republican and his first measures were: “The release of political prisoners.
“He restored the status and the Catalan government resumed agraria.Se reform created a climate of social tension, because the left took a revolutionary worker and went right to the provocation and conspiracy. 4.3-Developing the COUP On February 16, Franco tried the “Declaration of martial law.” The conspiracy was led by Mola and consisted of a statement of all potential military. The military coup was precipitated by the assassination of Castillo and the response was the murder of Calvo Sotelo on July 14. Above all, Quiroga remained dormant. On July 17, with Franco’s uprising started in Morocco, ending in the Spanish civil war and that will mean the end of the 2nd Spanish republic.