Land Reform and the Second Spanish Republic

The Agrarian Problem in Spain During the Second Republic

Introduction

The Second Spanish Republic, born from the municipal elections of April 12, 1931, marked a new era of hope after the exile of King Alfonso XIII. The Republic aimed to address the urgent needs of the Spanish people, including a critical agrarian problem with deep historical roots.

The State of Spanish Agriculture

Despite advancements in literature and science, Spain suffered from high illiteracy rates, exceeding 50% according to some estimates. Vast areas remained isolated, contributing to what philosopher José Ortega y Gasset termed an "invertebrate" Spain. Income inequality further exacerbated the situation.

The core issue was the unequal distribution and exploitation of agricultural land, a problem originating in the 18th century and persisting largely unresolved into the 20th. In 1931, agriculture constituted a significant portion of Spain's GDP, yet its benefits were unevenly distributed.

Smallholdings and Large Estates

Excessive smallholdings plagued the northwestern provinces, particularly Galicia and Northern Spain. These fragmented plots proved insufficient to sustain their cultivators, perpetuating poverty. Conversely, vast estates dominated the south and west, with single owners controlling thousands of hectares, often exploiting laborers and profiting from absentee ownership, as depicted in Miguel Delibes' novel The Holy Innocents and its film adaptation.

The Republic's Response

The Republic recognized the urgency of addressing this agrarian imbalance and its consequences, including seasonal unemployment among agricultural workers.

• The Republic aimed to find solutions for the large number of workers affected by precarious seasonal agricultural employment.
• The government acknowledged the exploitative practices on large estates and the detrimental effects of seasonal unemployment.
• The Republic, regardless of its political alliances during its first two years, recognized the necessity of tackling the land problem inherited from the previous regime.