Key Reforms and Events of the Second Spanish Republic

Item 13: Key Historical Terms

The Assault Guard

The Assault Guard was a new armed police force that emerged during the early reforms following the proclamation of the Republic. It was entrusted with maintaining security in the cities.

The Pastoral Letter of Cardinal Segura

The Pastoral Letter of Cardinal Segura was a publication released on May 1, which praised Alfonso XIII and the Church's relations with the state during the monarchy. This ended in open conflict, and the government ordered the expulsion of Segura.

Pedagogical Missions

The reformist biennium resulted in educational reform through the creation of Pedagogical Missions. These were designed to extend culture to rural areas, where many intellectuals collaborated, including Antonio Machado and Miguel Hernández.

The Employment Contracts Act

This law was passed by the Cortes between 1931 and 1932. It governed collective agreements on issues such as working hours and the labor of women and children. Contracts were required to be made in writing with a minimum duration of two years.

The Mixed Juries Act

Passed by the Cortes between 1931 and 1932, this act created bodies composed of workers and employers. These bodies were attributed functions of conciliation and arbitration, with broad authority to set working conditions, wages, and layoffs.

The Workers' Associations Act

This law, passed by the Cortes between 1931 and 1932, regulated the trade unions.

The Statute of Núria

The Statute of Núria was the Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia, drafted in 1931 and endorsed in a referendum by 99% of Catalan voters.

The Agrarian Reform Law

Originating in September 1932, this law was very moderate and became applicable to the entire national territory. It intended to achieve technical modernization, eliminate large estates (latifundios), and redistribute property through the settlement of farmers on expropriated land.

The Law for the Defense of the Republic

This act allowed the government to suspend constitutional guarantees. It was used harshly during bloody episodes such as those in Castilblanco and Arnedo, where serious clashes occurred between peasants and the Civil Guard.

The Casas Viejas Incident

This was a period of unrest in the province of Cádiz in January 1933. It involved a confrontation between groups of farmers in the CNT and the Civil Guard and Assault Guards. The security forces shot and killed eight peasants and executed another twelve.

The Amnesty Act

Following increasing pressure from the CEDA, the government proposed this bill, which involved the reinstatement to active duty of generals involved in the attempted coup of 1932.

The Popular Front

The Popular Front was an alliance of leftist parties formed in January 1936. It was the result of an electoral agreement, though not a governing one, between the Republican parties of the left, the Socialists, and the Communists. It presented a moderate program based on a general amnesty for those imprisoned for the events of October 1934 and the recovery of the reformist policies of the first biennium.

The Murder of Calvo Sotelo

This took place on July 13 in retaliation for the murder of Lieutenant Castillo of the Assault Guards. It accelerated the coup process and swayed undecided military figures, including Francisco Franco.