Spain's Second Republic: 1931 Constitution & Reform Era

Proclamation of the Republic & Provisional Government (1931)

In 1931, the Republic was proclaimed in various Spanish cities after King Alfonso XIII went into exile. A provisional coalition government was established, comprising ministers from diverse center-left parties that had signed the Pact of San Sebastián. Niceto Alcalá Zamora, from the center-right, became its President. The government's primary mission was to call general elections for a Constituent Cortes and to address pressing issues, including regionalist demands and religious conflicts. The elections for the Constituent Cortes resulted in a Republican coalition of leftist and socialist parties.

The Spanish Constitution of 1931

Drafting the Constitution of 1931 was the primary task of the Constituent Cortes. Debates were particularly intense regarding religion, as leftist deputies aimed to achieve a clear separation of Church and State. The Constitution included a significant chapter on rights and freedoms.

Key Constitutional Provisions:

• Universal suffrage, including voting rights for women for the first time.
• Religious freedom.
• Free and compulsory primary education.
• The Senate was abolished.
• Civil marriage and divorce were approved.

The Reformist Biennium (1931-1933)

Once the Constitution was proclaimed, the Cortes elected Niceto Alcalá Zamora as President of the Republic, and Manuel Azaña became the President of the Government (Prime Minister). This period, known as the Reformist Biennium, saw the implementation of several significant reform programs.

Major Reform Initiatives:

Educational Reform

Aimed at creating a secular and modern education system. The leaders believed the country's future was formed in classrooms. With nearly half the population illiterate, religious orders were banned from teaching, and religious institutions faced strong opposition. The Institución Libre de Enseñanza (Free Educational Institution) heavily influenced this reform.

Military Reform

Focused on modernizing an archaic and top-heavy (macrocephalic) army. Measures included reducing military jurisdiction in favor of civilian courts and creating the Guardia de Asalto (Assault Guard) as a police force loyal to the Republic.

Labor Laws

Led by socialist ministers, these laws aimed to improve working conditions. Key policies included:

• Implementation of the eight-hour workday in agriculture.
• Regulation of leasing contracts.
• Creation of mixed juries (jurados mixtos) for labor disputes.

Despite these efforts, worker strikes were constant.

Agrarian Reform

The archaic land ownership structures and their social consequences were major problems in Spain. The Basic Law of Agrarian Reform (1932) was approved with the objective of redistributing land and improving its productivity.

Statutes of Autonomy

Regional autonomy was addressed:

• Catalonia: The Statute of Autonomy was approved in 1932, leading to the creation of the Generalitat (Catalan autonomous government). Manuel Azaña defended this statute. Francesc Macià became its first president.
• Basque Country: Nationalist sentiment was less rooted here compared to Catalonia, and progress on its statute was slower.

Economic Challenges During the Second Republic

The Second Republic faced significant economic problems. These included a decrease in exports of machinery and other goods, coupled with capital flight, partly due to the uncertainty caused by the government's reform policies.