The Social Context of the Republic

• High popular expectations
• Sectarian violence
• Nationalist threats: autonomy for Catalonia
• Labor conflicts: anarchist violence

The Republican Reforms

• Church and state: banned religion in public and in education; banned the sale of Church property; destroyed Jesuit order; secularized cemeteries; legalized divorce.
• Education: increased spending (5.69 percent of national budget in 1931, 7.08 percent in 1934).
• Military reform: Azaña wanted to 'Republicanize' the military.

(1) Required an oath of allegiance

(2) Created advisory council of pro-Republic officers (gabinete negro)

(3) Failed to reform military promotions, continued to appoint top officers

(4) Granted retirement at full pay (more pro-Republican officers left, 8,000 in all)

Economic Crisis

• Slowdown of growth
• Massive unemployment

The Political Right

• Catholic, regional right-wing led by José María Gil Robles and the Spanish Confederation of Autonomous Rightist Groups (CEDA); The Falange led by José Antonio Primo de Rivera.
• The Monarchist right - formed around the fascist journal, Acción Española. Led by Primo de Rivera's ex. Min. of Finance, José Calvo Sotelo. Pro-clerical and military.