Spain's Second Republic: 1931-1936 Political & Social Transformation

1. The Genesis of the Second Republic (1931)

The end of Primo de Rivera's dictatorship led King Alfonso XIII to reinstate the old system. However, municipal elections on April 12, 1931, resulted in a Republican victory in major cities, while monarchist parties dominated rural areas. Despite the overall monarchist vote, King Alfonso XIII went into exile, paving the way for the Second Republic.

2. The 1931 Constitution

Following the general election on June 9, 1931, a left-wing coalition, including Republican Socialists, secured a decisive victory. A new constitution was drafted with these key features:

• A Republican political system.
• Extensive human rights, including divorce and freedom of religion.
• Separation of church and state: Government subsidies to the Catholic Church were removed, and Jesuits were expelled.
• Division of powers: A powerful Parliament (Legislative Power), a government (Executive Power) led by the President of the Republic, and an independent judiciary.
• The right to regional autonomy.
• Nationalization of private property under certain circumstances (influenced by socialist ideals).

3. The First Biennium (1931-1933)

Azaña's leftist government implemented significant reforms:

• Expansion of Public Education: Investment in human capital through the establishment of public schools. However, the closure of church schools, including those run by the Jesuits, alienated the Catholic Church and the middle and upper classes.
• Agrarian Reform: Aimed at redistributing land in regions like Andalusia and Extremadura, where large landowners held most of the land. This led to conflicts between landowners and newly formed farmers' unions (CNT and UGT).
• Catalan Statute of Autonomy: Approved in 1932.
• Women granted the right to vote.