VI. The World Wars and the Interwar Period, 1914–1945 > C. Europe, 1919–1945 > 8. The Iberian Peninsula > a. Spain > 1931, Feb. 8
  PREVIOUS NEXT  
CONTENTS · SUBJECT INDEX · BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD
  The Encyclopedia of World History.  2001.
 
 
1931, Feb. 8
 
The king announced the restoration of the constitution and fixed parliamentary elections for March. Popular demand for a constituent assembly. Berenguer resigned.  1
 
March
 
The government called for municipal and provincial elections and promised a constituent assembly.  2
 
April 12
 
The municipal elections resulted in an overwhelming victory for the Republicans. Niceto Alcalá Zamora, the Republican leader, called for the king's abdication.  3
 
April 14
 
KING ALFONSO LEFT SPAIN without abdicating, stating that he would await the expression of popular sentiment. In Eibar, Barcelona, and San Sebastian the Republic was proclaimed. Alcalá Zamora at once set up a provisional government, with himself as president.  4
 
June 28
 
Elections for the constituent assembly gave the Republican-Socialist coalition a huge majority.  5
 
Nov. 12
 
A committee of the assembly declared Alfonso XIII guilty of high treason and forbade his return to Spain. The royal property was confiscated.  6
 
Dec. 9
 
The new constitution was adopted. It provided for universal suffrage and a single-chamber parliament (cortes), to be elected for four years. The president of the republic was to be chosen by an electoral college consisting of parliament plus an equal number of electors chosen by popular vote. His term was to be six years. No army officer or member of the clergy was to be eligible. The ministry was to be responsible to parliament. The constitution proclaimed complete religious freedom and separated Church and State; education secularized; church property nationalized; the Jesuit order dissolved (Jan. 1932) and its property taken over. Catalonia was given a measure of local autonomy. The government was granted power to expropriate private property, to socialize large estates, and to nationalize public utilities.  7
 
Dec. 10
 
Alcalá Zamora elected first president. He had resigned in October in protest against extremist anticlerical legislation, and was succeeded by Manuel Azaña, who became first prime minister under the constitution. The national assembly continued to function as the first regular parliament.  8
The government began a policy of high wages, ignoring the problems this posed during a world depression. Spending became difficult to control, and the government stopped publishing a budget in 1932. The result by 1936 was deflation and economic decline, which, ironically, helped the Left come back to power after its 1934 election losses.  9
 
 
 
The Encyclopedia of World History, Sixth edition. Peter N. Stearns, general editor. Copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Maps by Mary Reilly, copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

CONTENTS · SUBJECT INDEX · BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD
  PREVIOUS NEXT