021 - Patch - Small - Spanish REPUBLIC Flag Spain - La Republica España

apptox. 6 x 3 cm

The Second Republic was formed on April 14, 1931 after local elections returned anti-monarchist representatives in most cities and large towns. Although much of rural Spain elected pro-monarchist politicians, everyone, including King Alfonso XIII, knew that local caciques (local town bosses) controlled the vote. Realizing his perilous position King Alfonso XIII went quietly into exile leaving Spain a republic for the first time since 1874. Although the Second Republic was greeted with much popular enthusiasm, significant segments of society were wary of the new regime. On the right, many members of the army and the Catholic Church feared that the Republic would curtail their authority, by placing political power in civilian hands and introducing secular education. Supporters of both King Alfonso XIII and the rival Carlist claimant to the throne, Don Jaime (and after his death in October 1931, Don Alfonso Carlos) were fundamentally opposed to the concept of a Republic. Many rich landowners also opposed the Republic for fear of social changes it might try to implement. On the left the Republic received broad support, with the notable exceptions of the anarchos-yndicalist union, the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (CNT) and the Federación Anarquista Ibérica (FAI). The Republic therefore emerged with hostile factions on both the right and the extreme left. Worse still, the supporters of the Republic were divided between middle class Republicans who wanted to create a more modern liberal capitalist regime, and Socialists of the Partido Socialista Obrero Español (PSOE), many of whose supporters expected radical changes, especially land redistribution, from the Republic. Under these circumstances a Constituent Cortes was elected in June and July 1931 for the purposes of creating a constitution for the new republic. Out of 470 seats, 361 went to parties that had supported the formation of the Republic, leaving those who disagreed with the new regime with little say as to the character it would take.