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The pact of San Sebastian
Republicans and socialists meet in San Sebastian and agree to overthrow the monarchy and establish a democratic republican regime. They create a Revolutionary Committee to co-ordinate the opposition. Their initial plan of calling a general strike and a military rising fail and many members of the Revolutionary Committee are arrested. -
Municipal elections.
The new constitutional government chosen by the king call the first three elections since Primo de Rivera's coup in 1921. The elections are municipal but everyone understands them to be a referendum on the monarchy. Overall the monarchist win, but the republicans get a decisive victory in the large cities. Alfonso XIII understands that he can't remain without the support of the urban classes, and he leaves the country. -
The proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic.
The Republic is proclaimed. On that same day the Revolutionary Committee becomes the Provisional Republican Government of the Second Spanish Republic. The Republic has broad support from all segments of society. -
The 1931 Constitution.
In June 1931,the Constituent Assembly elections were held to choose the drafters of the new Republican Constitution. The victors were the parties forming the Provisional Government: Partido Socialista Obrero Español(PSOE) and Partido Republicano Radical(PRR). The drafters described it as a progressive, democratic and left-wing constitution.
Democratic and progressive features.
Secularism.
Regionalism.
Social economy. -
Reformist biennium (1931-1933)
Niceto Alcalá Zamora was named president of the Republic and Manuel Azaña was named president of the government.
Azaña's new cabinet introduced a variety of ambitious reforms.
The subordination of the army to the civil government led the military to withdraw its support for the Republic.
The Jesuits were expelled.
The Agrarian reform. -
The black biennium (1933-1936)
Elections were held in November 1933.
This was the first time women could vote.
The Revolution of October 1934
It was striker's movement by nationalist, anarchist and communist organisations. It involved some important uprisings:
Cataluña declared itself independent.
In Asturias the miners staged an armed revolt. -
The Popular Front(1936)
New elections ere called for February 1936.
The left-wing parties joined together to form the Popular Front coalition. The Popular Front defended the right to amnesty for the political prisioners held since the Revolution of 1934 and pushed the social reforms begun in 1931. -
The start of the cvil war (1936)
The atmosphere was very tense in parliament, but the street violence between politically adverse groups was more worrying, with assassinations and church arson. On 12 July, Lieutenant Castillo, a member of the government's assault guards in socialist sympathiser, was murdered by right-wing gunmen. In revenge, some of Castillo's colleagues kidnapped and killed the right-wing deputy Calvo Sotelo the following day.