2 Years of Reform 1931-33 Flashcards
Revision
What changes were made to the army?
reduced in size and influence
40% of senior figures forced to retire (8000 men)
would now face civil court for civil offences
What changes were made regarding religion and the Catholic Church?
Articles 26 and 27 of 1931 Constitution = disestablishment
religious figures no longer receiving a state salary
Jesuits expelled
religious teaching banned in schools because:
- literacy rate 50%
- prioritised boys
- limited range of subjects taught
What were the issues with the Agrarian industry?
low demand for products
1930-4 agricultural exports fell 75%
huge unemployment
land in disuse
What did the Republican government do to try and help the Agrarian industry?
Law of Municipal Boundaries April 1931
- promoted use of local labour
Agrarian Reform Law September 1932
- latifundias over 23 hectares could be nationalised and redistributed to peasants
What was the outcome of the reforms to the Agrarian industry?
worst of both worlds:
annoyed conservatives and frustrated left
lacked funding
minimal impact
What did the Republican government do to try and help the Industrial sector?
support base for govt - wanted to appease them
8 hour working day
enhanced pay and holiday
improved conditions
BUT economic issues made this seem insubstantial
What reforms were made to education?
almost 10,000 new schools built
teacher wages improved (instead of paying religious orders)
co-education
travelling schools went to remote areas
children educated at secondary level = 20,000 1929 to 70,000 1932
What reforms were made to regional powers?
Catalan Statute September 1932
- enhanced self-government and devolved powers
granted to both Basque and Catalonia but only successful in Catalonia
government won support of both regions
How did the liberal left respond to the reforms?
happy because made things better for the working class
How did the radical left respond to the reforms?
impatient with the slow pace of reforms
- rise in strike activity and revolutionary agitation
How did the conservatives respond to the reforms?
unhappy
- increase in political organisation and action
What was the unrest in July 1931?
telephone workers strike
- Spanish Civil Guard responded and killed 30
What was the unrest at the end of 1931?
socialist strike in Castilblanco
- 4 Civil Guards were killed
What was the unrest in early 1932?
wave of violence in Arnedo
- Civil Guard injured 30 and killed 11 including women and children
What was the unrest in August 1932?
failed military coup in Madrid
led by General Sanjurjo (former director of Civil Guard)
disliked socialist government
catalyst = discussion of Catalonia gaining autonomous rule
What was the unrest in January 1933?
anarchist uprising in Casas Viejas - attacked Civil Guard barracks
Civil Guard massacred 25 rebel peasants in retaliation - 20 prisoners shot (some after excessive torture) and others burned alive in their houses
Republic discredited and lost support
When did the Falange Espanola form?
late 1933
What was the left wing unrest in 1933?
series of disruptive ‘wildcat’ strikes across various industries
What was the Falange?
fascist party
founded by Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera (son of previous dictator)
Who was Prime Minister?
Manuel Azana
Who was President?
Niceto Alcala-Zamora
Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera
son of the previous dictator Miguel Primo de Rivera
Falange Espanola
fascist party
founded in October 1933 by Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera
