The 2nd Republic

S1, E3: The 2nd Spanish Republic begins with great hope, in Barcelona and across Spain. For the first time in anyone’s memory, the three pillars of power–the crown, the clergy, and the aristocracy–are shaken loose. Working and lower classes are now to have a voice, and the opportunity for a brighter future. But the social reforms and political maneuvering required to bring such dreams to life are towering, and patience, among the proletariat, is not without limits. Significant events include the enactment of Catalunya’s 1st Statute of Autonomy, the building of thousands of modern schools, the continued growth of the CNT, the death of Francesc Macià, the jailing of Lluís Companys and his government, and the adoption of a spate of new reforms that make Spain, suddenly, the most progressive country in all of Europe. With the introduction of major figures Francisco Franco, José María Gil-Robles and Alejandro Lerroux, this episode culminates in tragedy, as persistent political brinkmanship results in a military coup that will usher in the Spanish Civil War.