Reign of Fernando VII and Spain's Second Republic: A Historical Analysis

Classified in History

Written at November 28, 2024 on English with a size of 4.53 KB.

Fernando VII (1814-1833)

Overriding of the Constitution of Cádiz.
Re-establishment of monarchical institutions from 1808, the Court of the Inquisition, and the Absolute Monarchy.
Adjournment of confiscations; land becomes available to the monarchy.
End of the period marked by the pronouncement of the military under General Riego.

Restoration of the Cortes of Cádiz and the 1812 Constitution.
Abolition of the Court of the Inquisition.
Restoration of secularization and commencement of amortization (peasants may dispose of land).
Religious reform (reduction of monasteries and tithe).
Enactment of the first criminal code.
Division between moderates and radicals.
End of the period marked by the arrival of the Hundred Thousand Sons of Saint Louis (absolutist troops).

Harsh repression against liberalism.
Restoration of absolute monarchy, but not the Inquisition.
Emergence of the Cabinet and Ministry of Development.
First State budget.
Appearance of Carlism.
Birth of Isabella II.
Death of Fernando VII in 1833, followed by the start of the First Carlist War and the triumph of the Isabellines (liberals), initiating the Moderate Decade in Spain.

King Alfonso XIII appoints Berenguer (Conservative) as head of government.
Creation of the Pact of San Sebastián (republicans and Catalan socialists).
Berenguer resigns and is succeeded by Admiral Aznar's monarchical government.
Republicans win the municipal elections.
Alfonso XIII goes into exile in Rome in 1931.
Establishment of a provisional government headed by Niceto Alcalá Zamora, including Lerroux and Azaña (Republicans) and Caballero and Prieto (Socialists).
Convening of constituent courts with electoral victory for the provisional government.
Enactment of the 1931 Constitution:
- Democratic regime.
- Popular sovereignty.
- Unicameral parliament.
- Executive branch.
- Universal male suffrage and subsequent reform allowing women to vote.
- Statutes of autonomy for the regions.
- Extensive declaration of individual and social rights.
- Separation of church and state.

Agricultural Reform: Expropriation of large landholdings with compensation and distribution among farmers.
Labor Reform: Establishment of the 8-hour workday.
Military Reform: Sending troops to the reserve and closure of military schools.
Education Reform: Secular, free public education system.
Church Reform: Abolition of compulsory religious education and introduction of divorce law.
Regional Autonomy: Adoption of the Statute of Catalonia.
Economic and Political Difficulties: Economic crisis and slow implementation of land reform.
Casas Viejas Incident: Events in Casas Viejas (Cádiz) force Azaña's resignation and call for elections.

Separate Republican parties (Radicals and Socialists) and the formation of the CEDA (right-wing coalition).
Victory for CEDA, but the government is handed over to Lerroux (Radical Republican), who governs with CEDA's support.
Lerroux resigns following the rejection of amnesty proposed by Alcalá Zamora and is replaced by Samper.
Retreat from the reforms of the first biennium, leading to harsh criticism of Samper, who eventually resigns.

Lerroux returns to government with CEDA ministers, triggering the Revolution of 1934.
Consequences: Repression, Lerroux's resignation over a black market scandal.
Call for elections, leading to the victory of the Popular Front (a coalition of leftist parties).
Azaña becomes President of the Republic, and Casares Quiroga is appointed Prime Minister.
Amnesty for political prisoners.
Re-establishment of the Statutes of Autonomy of Catalonia, the Basque Country, and Galicia, and the reforms of the first biennium.

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