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Pact of San Sebastian
The Republicans and the Socialist meet in San Sebastian. In that meeting, they agree to overthrow the monarchy (actual king: Alfonso XIII) and establish a democratic republican regime. They create a Revolutionary Committee to co-ordinate the opposition. Their initial attack of military rising fail and many members of this Committee are arrested. -
Municipal elections
The new constitutional government chosen by the king called the first free elections since Primo de Rivera coup in 1921-1929. The elections are municipal, but everybody understands them to be a referendum on the monarchy. The monarchy wins, but the republicans get a decisive victory in the large cities. Alfonso XIII understands that he can not remain without the support of the urban classes, and he leaves the country. -
Proclamation
The Republic is proclaimed. On that day the Revolutionary Committee becomes the Provisional Republican Government of the Second Spanish Republic. The Republic has support from all segments of society. -
1931 Constitution
In June the Constituent Assembly elections were held to choose the drafters parties to write the Republican Constitution. The victor´s parties were the PSOE and PRR. They described the Constitution as a progressive, democratic and left-wing constitution.
CHARACTERISTIC:
1. Democratic and progressive features:
Popular Sovereignty
The division of powers
Declaration of civil rights
Declaration of collective rights
2. Secularism
3. Regionalism
4. Social economy -
Reformist biennium (1931-1933)
Niceto Alcalá Zamora was named president of the Republic (PRR) and Manuel Azaña was named president of the government (intellectual of the left-wing)
Azaña´s new cabinet introduced new reforms:
1. Statute of Autonomy for Cataluña
2. Subordination of the army
3. Jesuits were expelled
4. Agrarian reform In 1932 General Sanjuro´s coup to stop the reform failed
In 1933 anarchist labourers occupied the land in Casas Viejas. Repressed by Azaña´s government. -
Black biennium (1933-1936)
Elections were held in November 1933. These elections were the first ones in which the women could vote. The left-wing parties were more divided than ever. The anarchist encouraged people to not vote and the right.-wing Catholic parties were united in CEDA. CEDA and PRR won the elections. Alejandro Lerroux (PRR) was in charge of forming the government. He managed, with the support of CEDA, to reverse the reforms. -
Revolution of October
Some leaders of PSOE feared that CEDA was beginning to resemble the fascism so they called a general strike which grew into a revolution. It was a movement by nationalist, anarchist and communist organisations. Important uprisings:
Cataluña declared itself independent. In response, the Generalitat was dissolved and the president was arrested.
Asturias: miners staged an armed revolt. It was put down by the army. -
Popular Front
New elections 1936. The left-wing parties joined together to form the Popular Front coalition. They defended the right to amnesty for the political prisoners held in the Revolution. Support for the right-wing radical parties grew led by José Calvo Sotelo and the fascist party Falange Española. Popular Front won the elections of 1936 but the results showed that Spain was politically split between right-wing (45%) and left-wing (47%) Soon Army officers began plotting to overthrow the government -
Civil War 1936
On 12 July, guards and a socialist sympathiser was murdered by right-wing gunmen. In revenge, some of Castillo´s colleagues kidnapped and killed the right-wing deputy Calvo Sotelo. This event triggered the military coup which had been making for some time. General Emilio Mola was in charge. On the 17 July, rebel soldiers in the Spanish protectorate of Morocco seized control of their garrisons in Ceuta, Melilla and Tetuan. Civil War started.
