Spain's Progressive Biennium: Reforms and Challenges (1931-1933)

The Progressive Biennium (1931-1933)

The period known as the Progressive Biennium (1931-1933) marked a significant phase in the history of the Second Spanish Republic, characterized by ambitious social and economic reforms.

Economic Challenges and Stagnation

Spain was not severely affected by the Great Depression of 1929 due to its relatively closed economy; data from these years actually indicated an impasse. However, a stagnant economy proved insufficient to fund the ambitious reforms planned by the government.

Two factors significantly impacted the economic landscape:

• Global Economic Crises: Many foreign governments initiated protectionist measures, hindering international trade.
• Rising Unemployment: A clear and growing increase in unemployment resulted from both domestic issues and the return of migrants due to job scarcity in host countries.

Key Social Reforms Implemented

During 1932 and 1933, the government continued its reform agenda:

• Labor Reform: Labor Minister Largo Caballero continued his efforts, leading to the passage of the Labor Contract Law for Mixed Juries and the establishment of a comprehensive labor inspection system.
• Education Reform: This reform focused on the construction of new schools, an increase in teacher positions, and the prohibition of teaching by religious congregations.
• Military Reform: Building on earlier initiatives, the government attempted to reduce the size of the army and modernize its preparation and equipment. Military structures were also reorganized to reduce the number of officers and generals. However, the government's priority on social spending limited the scope of some military improvements.

Agrarian Reform Initiatives

A cornerstone of the Progressive Biennium was the agrarian reform, which aimed to settle farmers on the land of large estates. After months of discussion, the decision was made to expropriate land from large landowners to distribute to farmers, particularly in southern Spain. The Law on Bases for Agrarian Reform declared the expropriation of land based on specific criteria, such as owners having a cadastral income exceeding 1000 pesetas. To implement this law, the Institute for Agrarian Reform (IRA) was created.

However, its implementation proved largely unsuccessful. It took over a year to carry out, and a limited budget prevented the adequate expropriation and distribution of farms.

Political Opposition and Social Unrest

The government faced open opposition from the outset. This opposition included the political right, Lerroux's Radical Republican Party, the CNT (National Confederation of Labor), and the PCE (Communist Party of Spain).

These conflicts fueled social tensions and ongoing unrest. Furthermore, the pace of reforms was deliberately slowed by landowners and industrialists who resisted the changes.

In response to these demonstrations, the government frequently deployed law enforcement, leading to a continuous series of serious incidents.