Azaña's Biennial Reforms: Military, Religious, and Agrarian Changes

The Biennium Reform

Reform of the Army

The first drove Azaña creating a democratic and professional army, which also reduced military effectives. Azaña proposed to end the army's intervention in political life. It was established that officers in active service must promise their allegiance to the regime, conditioning the possibility of retiring with their full salary. The number of bases, officials, units, and the Military Academy of Zaragoza was reduced, and the Supreme Council of Military Justice was dissolved.

The failed reform missed its objectives. It was only received by some sectors of the army as the first aggression against military tradition and caused tensions.

The Religious Issue

The Republic proposed to limit the influence of the Spanish Church in society; these intentions remained embodied in the Constitution. Civil marriage and divorce were also permitted. The fear of religious orders led to the dissolution of the Jesuits, the nationalization of their assets, and the Law of Congregations, which limited the possessions of religious orders.

The religious problem chronically marked the republican regime with its enemies. A good part of the ecclesiastical hierarchy did not hesitate to manifest its antagonism toward the Republic.

Agrarian Reform

The agricultural reform was the most ambitious project launched by the Republic, as half of the population worked in agriculture. In Andalusia, Castilla, and Extremadura, more than 50% of the land belonged to large landowners. The leaders of the Republic proposed to seek solutions to the land question.

First, a series of decrees were pursued to protect landless peasants and tenant farmers. The eviction of lease contracts was prohibited, working hours in the field were fixed at 8 hours, minimum wages were determined, and landowners were obligated to cultivate suitable land.

Chronologically, the goal of the agrarian reform was the expropriation of estates for the settlement of peasants. Expropriation without indemnification permitted the taking of land from the uncultivated nobility, while landowners whose lands were expropriated received compensation. The application of this was entrusted to the Institute of Agrarian Reform.

The reform applied limitations and ended up expropriating much less than planned. The application of the land reform had social consequences: the large landowners maintained a defiant attitude toward the peasants. The landowners allied with the enemies of the regime, which favored conservative forces in opposing the republican reforms. The peasants remained disappointed and took revolutionary positions.