Reforms after the proclamation of the constitution of the Second Spanish Republic
On April 14, 1931, two days after the municipal elections that gave the majority to an antimonarchical coalition, Spain inaugurated a Second Republic in a complicated context. Let’s see that the European and world climate did not help the stability of the new regime. On the one hand, the Republic is proclaimed in full world economic recession. On the other hand, at the same time Spain endowed with a democratic regime, a part of the European states sank into more or less fascist dictatorships. This will end a few years later in a terrible civil war. It is the second time that Spain tries a republican experience after the First Republic, the first one lasted from 1873 to 1876. The provisional government is formed just after the Pact of San Sebastián, under the presidency of an former Minister of the Monarchy, Alcalá Zamora. Gathered very diverse opinions.
We can say that there were three phases of the Republic. In first, the reformist biennium. The social-azañista government ruled the country from June 1931 to November 1933. His political orientation was a left center, socialists, it was an alliance. Niceto Alcalá Zamora was the President of the Republic but those who had more power were the prime ministers, Manuel Azaña was the head of the Government.
The reformist biennium was a stage which begins from the proclamation of 14 of 1931 to the elections in November 1933 in which multiple changes and reforms were given in the state. The proclamation of the Constitution of the Second Republic is accompanied by many reforms such as the establishment of the principle of separation between the Church and the State, as well as the right to vote of women. Most reforms referred to education, agriculture, work or related to the church-state relationship. The objectives were to improve the living conditions of the most vulnerable, the peasants and workers above all. Improve the educational level of society, assign the army to the republican cause, remove the traditional weight of the Catholic Church in society and in education in particular, reduce inequality between men and women as the right to divorce and suffragefeminine. For the inhabitants, the reforms were not enough. At the same time the right is growing in Parliament. This did not work, so the government decided to make second elections where women could vote, the right wins.
Then comes the radical-caedist biennium from November 1933 to February 1936. This is the second phase of the Republic. The president of the Government is Alejandro Lerroux, governs with the CEDA and the Republicans. It is a moderate right -wing government. At the same time there is a revolution in Spain almost to the point of a civil war, especially in Catalonia. The government is increasingly right. All this and the Straperlo scandal and the Affaire Namela caused the fall of the government. So there are elections on January 1, 1936 with an armistice, the popular front wins. During the third phase, the Popular Front was a Spanish electoral coalition created in January 1936 by the main leftist parties. On February 16, he managed to win the last elections during the Second Republic. But the left is not legitimate because of violence and fights.
The coup in Spain of July 1936 was a military uprising directed against the government of the Second Republic emerged from the February elections of that year that took place in July of that year, and happening to the murder of the main leader of the oppositionJosé Calvo Sotelo.
On July 17, 1936, the war explodes. This war opposes the republican side, the reds, legitimate of the Republic and the rebel side, the nationals, of General Franco. The failure of Spain’s coup marked the beginning of the Spanish Civil War. It quickly transforms into a long war and wear after the capture of Madrid. A foreign intervention was fundamental for both sides. The national side had the support of Germany, Italy and Portugal. The Republican side had support from the USSR. France and England did not participate in the conflict because they signed the non -intervention pact signed. Historians distingu 4 phases of civil war.
The first period is from July 1936 to spring 1937 with the passage of the Strait to the battle of Madrid. The second phase represents the Northern Battle to the Battle of Teruel from spring 1937 to spring 1938. From April to December 1938 the Battle of the Ebro took place. The fourth phase, from December 1938 to March 1939, marks the end of the war with the battle of Catalonia. The first causes of the war are the murder of Castillo José, along with that of the conservative José Calvo Sotelo were the immediate triggers of the Spanish Civil War but there are other historical causes.
Indeed, the background of armed conflicts such as the 3 Carlist wars. Without forgetting the inability of the Second Republic, communism, fascism and the will of generals such as General Mola had a role in the beginning of the war.
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