The Second Spanish Republic and Civil War History

The Second Republic

1. The 1931 Constitution and the Reformist Biennium

• Provisional government and elections to constituent courts (June 1931).
• The 1931 Republican Constitution.
• Projects and difficulties of the government.
• Law for the Defense of the Republic.
• Agrarian Reform and the Statute of Autonomy.
• Discrediting of old parties and the fall of Azaña's government.

2. The Radical Biennium, CEDA, and the Popular Front

Alcalá-Zamora tasked the Radicals (led by Lerroux) with forming a government, though he remained wary of their anti-democratic and totalitarian tendencies. Key policies included the rectification and paralysis of agrarian, military, and educational reforms, as well as reconciliation with the Catholic Church and confrontation with nationalism.

Political Radicalization and Confrontation

• Right: The landed class, Catholic popular media, Renovación Española (Calvo Sotelo), Monarchists, and extremists like the Falange (JONS).
• Left: Republican Left, labor alliances with the PSOE, UGT, and PCE. The rise of fascism prompted alliances against revolutionary action, including the declaration of the Republic of Catalonia by Lluís Companys.

The Revolution of October 1934

Following the inclusion of CEDA ministers, the Left called for a general strike. The movement failed in Madrid and Barcelona but succeeded in Asturias, leading to the suspension of autonomy and new land laws. After the Straperlo scandal, Lerroux resigned, leading to the elections of February 1936.

The 1936 Elections and the Popular Front

The Popular Front (Left Republicans, PSOE, POUM, PCE, Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya) defeated the Right-wing coalition. Azaña became President and Casares Quiroga led the government. Rising political tensions and a military plot led by Mola culminated in the army rebellion against the Republic in July, starting in Morocco.

The Civil War

1. The Military Uprising

• Areas faithful to the Republic.
• Division of Spain: Resources and territory.

The Development of the Civil War

• Political decomposition after the coup and subsequent repression.
• Phase 1: March on Madrid (July–October 1936).
• Phase 2: Battles for Madrid (October 1936–March 1937).
• Phase 3: Northern Front campaign (April–October 1937).
• Phase 4: Battle of Teruel and the Battle of the Ebro (December 1937–November 1938).
• Phase 5: Occupation of Catalonia and the end of the war (December 1938–March 1939).

Political Evolution of the Two Areas

• Republican Zone.
• Francoist Zone.

2. The International Dimension

• Failure of the Non-Intervention Committee.
• Foreign aid to Republican Spain.
• Foreign aid to the Nationalist forces.

Consequences of the War

Human, economic, social, and moral impacts.