The Establishment of the Second Republic in Spain

The establishment of the Second Republic and the Constitution of 1931

Following Primo de Rivera's resignation in 1930, a growing decline of the monarchy was evident. The king appointed Prime Minister General Berenguer, who was to replace the constitutional system (1876 Constitution), which was unacceptable to the opposition, and save the figure of Alfonso XIII, associated with the dictatorship. On April 12, 1931, municipal elections were held to replace the councils of the dictatorship. Republican and Socialist candidates won in much of the country, demonstrating a rejection of the monarchy. Alfonso XIII relinquished real power and left Spain. On April 14, 1931, the Second Republic was proclaimed, establishing a provisional government headed by Alcalá Zamora.

There were a large number of political parties:

• Fascist Group and JONS Falange (founded by José Antonio Primo de Rivera)
• Right-wing political forces: Carlist, Spanish Renewal, monarchists (Alfonsinos), who rejected democracy and universal suffrage, advocating authoritarianism. Their leaders belonged to the aristocracy and wealthy classes. CEDA defended conservative values, religious education, the army, and the traditional family, opposing agrarian reforms and the progress of socialism that threatened the capitalist system, as well as the demands of Catalan and Basque nationalists. It was led by Gil Robles.
• Center politics: Radical Republican Party, led by Lerroux, defended order and sought to curb any excessive socio-economic reform.
• Leftist groups: Radical Socialist Party, Republican Action, progressive, pacifist, and repudiating extremism. Its main leader was Manuel Azaña, head of government from 1931 to 1933 and president of the Republic since 1936. AR was supported by the middle classes. In 1934, it merged with the Radical Socialist Party, forming the Republican Left.
• Proletarian parties: PSOE, PCE, anarchists (indifferent to republican legality but willing to revolutionary upheaval and confrontation with the right).
• National and regional parties: PNV, ERC, Catalan Republican Lliga.

The Constitution of 1931

It aimed to establish a real and formal democracy, and for the first time in Spain, recognized the right of universal suffrage for both men and women. Its essentials are:

• The recognition of the right of women to vote, although opponents claimed that pressures influenced women due to their economic dependence on their parents or husbands and illiteracy.
• The regional issue: the Constitution included a formula to allow for regional autonomy. Despite opposition from right-wing parties, the Catalan Statute of Autonomy was achieved in 1932, and in 1936, the status of the Basque Country was approved.
• The religious issue: The Republican state was declared non-confessional and withdrew all financial support for the Catholic Church.
• The rights of citizens: recognition of individual rights without limit, and a series of social rights, such as work, education, and health.
• Limiting the right to private property.

The legislative power was placed in a unicameral parliament. The President of the Republic occupied the headquarters of the State, and their mandate, with no possibility of reelection, lasted six years.

Option B

The first document refers to the manner in which the Second Republic was proclaimed. In early 1931, municipal elections were held to replace the councils of the dictatorship. The elections on April 12 were essentially a referendum demonstrating support for or against the regime. Republican and Socialist candidates won, proving the rejection of the monarchy and leading to its downfall. Alfonso XIII left office and departed from Spain. On April 14, 1931, the Second Republic was proclaimed, and a provisional government headed by Alcalá Zamora took over. The text states that this new historical period was not just another stage of the long crisis that Spain had suffered since the disaster of 1898, but it led to the displacement of the ruling classes who had always sided with the monarchy. The second document is a photo showing the enthusiasm of the people before the proclamation of the Republic.