1.3.3 Undoing the Reforms of 1931-33

• Lerroux's Reforms:

  1. He attacked laws that entrenched workers' rights, meaning their wages fell
  2. He reversed land reforms, allowing landowners to retake their land
  3. He refused to enforce the separation of the Church from the state
• Reasons Alcala Zamora Wanted to Exclude CEDA:

  1. CEDA deputies had refused to swear loyalty to the republic
  2. He suspected they would turn Spain into a dictatorship
  3. PSOE leader, Largo Caballero, threatened an uprising if they were allowed into government
• In October 1934, Gil Robles threatened to withdraw CEDA's support for the republic unless its members were given positions in the government. This forced Alcala Zamora to let CEDA into the government
• The 1933 elections radicalised the left as the failure of democracy to deliver meaningful reform persuaded socialists to embrace revolution
• Largo Caballero did not expect to follow through with his threat of a revolution after CEDA was admitted into the government but felt unable to back down