The Spanish Second Republic: From Reform to Revolution (1930-1934)
The Spanish Second Republic (1930-1934)
The Fall of the Monarchy and the Provisional Government (1930)
Following the resignation of Primo de Rivera in January 1930, the Pact of San Sebastián (August 1930) forged a new alliance. Republicans, Catalan nationalists, and even some monarchists agreed to abolish the monarchy, proclaim a Republic, and create a provisional government. This government would approve a new constitution and an autonomy statute for Catalonia. The PSOE and CNT also lent their support.
In February 1931, Juan Bautista Aznar became President and called for municipal elections in April. The results favored the Republicans. On April 14th, Niceto Alcalá-Zamora became the provisional President of the Republic, and Alfonso XIII went into exile.
The Reformist Biennium (1931-1933)
Catalan Autonomy: The Republican Left of Catalonia, led by Francesc Macià, achieved a Statute of Autonomy.
Provisional Government Initiatives:
- Labor: Prioritized workers’ rights and land reform.
- Education: Created new schools, teaching positions, and libraries.
- Military: Offered early retirement for officers and reduced the number of commands.
- Church: Witnessed the burning of convents in Madrid in May.
The Republican Constitution (1931): A new constitution, adopted on December 9, 1931, reflected the values of the left. It established a secular state, enshrined rights, and allowed for regional autonomy.
Constitutional Government (1931-1933): Niceto Alcalá-Zamora tasked Manuel Azaña with forming a government.
Agrarian Reform Law: While much land was earmarked for redistribution, the process was slow. This period saw unrest in the Andalusian countryside and anarchist agitation in Alt Llobregat.
Catalan Autonomy (1931-1932): The Catalan government, led by Macià, lasted only from April 14th to 18th, 1931. Catalan nationalists had to renounce national sovereignty and accept an autonomous status within Spain. A draft statute was prepared and approved by referendum in August 1931. The final statute, approved in 1932, proclaimed the right to self-determination, defended the Spanish state structure, and defined Catalonia as an autonomous state within the Spanish Republic. It also allowed for the possibility of incorporating new territories and defended the use of the Catalan language. The Spanish courts, however, significantly reduced the scope of the original statute after an intense anti-Catalan campaign.
The Conservative Biennium (1933-1934)
Manuel Azaña’s government fell in September 1933 due to disagreements between the supporting political parties, exacerbated by the events of Casas Viejas. Alcalá-Zamora dissolved parliament and called for new elections in November.
The Right in Power: The Spanish right, including the JONS and CEDA, performed well in the 1933 elections, leading to the defeat of the left. The center-right coalition won, and the League of Catalonia supported Alcalá-Zamora’s presidency. Alejandro Lerroux was tasked with forming a government, supported by the CEDA.
The October Revolution of 1934: Months after the right’s triumph, sectors of the PSOE and UGT prepared an armed insurrection, accompanied by a general strike. The context included Hitler’s rise in Germany and the persecution of socialists in Austria. The inclusion of CEDA members in Lerroux’s government triggered the revolt. The UGT called a general strike, but the CNT did not join. The insurrection only gained traction in Asturias for two weeks before being brutally suppressed by the Army of Africa, commanded by Franco.
October 6th in Catalonia: After Macià’s death in 1933, Lluís Companys became President of the Generalitat. The League left the Catalan parliament over disagreements. In 1934, the Catalan parliament approved several laws, which the Republican government overturned, claiming the Catalan parliament lacked jurisdiction over social matters. Left-wing members of the Republican Congress left in protest. The general strike declared on October 5th, and the inclusion of three CEDA ministers in Lerroux’s government, led to Companys proclaiming the Catalan State within a Federal Spanish Republic on October 6th. This unilateral declaration resulted in the suspension of the Statute of Autonomy and the imprisonment of the Catalan government.
Achievements of the Catalan Government:
- Created statistical services and deposit boxes.
- Boosted agriculture through cooperatives.
- Implemented social reforms, including labor councils and social assistance services.
- Reorganized the primary healthcare system, built new hospitals, and launched vaccination campaigns.
- Built secondary and vocational schools.
- Enacted legislation to improve the status of women.