Spanish Republic 1931-33

• Army Reforms:

  Due to the idea that there was 1 officer to 11 soldiers, which was a burden on taxpayers, the government began offering officers to retire on full pay. 8000 officers took them up on the offer. Furthermore, military service was reduced to a year and the military academy at Saragossa closed.
• Agrarian Reforms:

  The Minister of Labour, Caballero decreed to address the problems faced by agrarian workers. This led to a 8hr day and overtime pay, in which mixed committees of labourers and landowners were to be set up to settle any wage disputes. The Law of Municipal Boundaries (1931) meant that landowners could only employ local labourers and the Agrarian Law (1932) led to the redistribution of unworked land to peasants in central/southern Spain.
• Catalan Statute 1932:

  This meant that considerable power was devolved to Catalan parliament in Barcelona.
• Social Reforms:

  Introduced during the Great Depression, government revenue began failing at a time when reforms were urgently needed. This led to unemployment rising, from 400000 in 1931, to 600000 in 1933.
• Problems with the Army Reforms:

  However, the reforms didn't improve efficiency or loyalty in the army as it antagonised junior officers. Franco was also annoyed, as he was the commanding officer at Saragossa Military Academy.
• Problems with the Agrarian Reforms:

  These reforms had a dramatic effect as power shifted to the workers. Landowners attempted to prevent the reforms, leading to an increase in support for RW and conservative parties. However, even though the Agrarian Law 1932 seemed radical, it was actually limited in implementation. Overall the reforms practically failed, with growing opposition from the Socialists because of it.
• Problems with the Catalan Statute:

  Although most of Catalonia now supported the Republic, it was hated by Nationalists, especially the army, who thought that it threatened Spain's unity. No deal was also reached with Basque separatists, which further fostered tensions.
• Strikes:

  The reforms introduced caused many outbreaks of strikes, For example, in July 1931, the CNT inspired a strike of telephone workers, leading to the Republican Government sending the army and civil guard, who killed 30 strikers.
• Sanjurjo Rising:

  General Sanjurjo opposed Azana's military reforms and Catalan autonomy. This led to him attempting to seize Seville in August, 1932. However, he had no support and was easily defeated.
• Casa Viejas 1933:

  This was a CNT inspired rising of peasants angry at the slow pace of agrarian reform. Although this was a peaceful protest, it was brutally crushed by the Civil and Assualt Guard. This caused the working class and landless peasantry to become bitter and disillusioned with the government, eventually leading to the Socialists (PSOE) withdrawing from government in Autumn 1933, meaning new elections had to be called.
• Church Reforms:

  • Article 3: Spanish State had no official religion.
  • Article 26: State no longer gave economic aid to churches.
  • Article 27: Banned funeral processions and the ringing of church bells.
  • Article 44: State had the right to take church property in return for compensation.
• Problems with the Church Reforms:

  The Agrarian Minority (RW) opposed the reforms, but they failed to prevent any anti-clerical laws. However, with the help of CEDA, they campaigned against the reforms, calling them 'satanic' and suggesting the government was 'full of violent animals'. Gil Robles also claimed to have campaigned for constitutional reform, not to bring the King back, but to bring back traditional Spanish values.