Republican Alliance facts for kids

The Republican Alliance (Spanish: Alianza Republicana) was a group of political parties in Spain. It brought together several groups who wanted a republic instead of a monarchy (a country ruled by a king or queen). This alliance was formed on 11 February 1926, during the time when Spain was under a strict government called the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera.

The alliance included different types of republican groups. They all wanted a republic, but they had different ideas on how to achieve it and what kind of republic it should be.

What Groups Formed the Alliance?

The Republican Alliance was made up of four main political groups:

• The Radical Republican Party: This party was led by Alejandro Lerroux. It was founded in 1908. Over time, it became a more moderate party.
• The Federal Republican Party: This was an older republican party. It did not have many active members and soon left the alliance.
• The Republican Action Group: This group was formed in 1925. It was led by Manuel Azaña. Many young professionals and thinkers, like José Giral and Ramón Pérez de Ayala, were part of this group.
• The Catalan Republican Party [ca]: This party was founded in 1917 by Marcelino Domingo and Lluís Companys. It represented the left-wing of Catalan nationalism, which supported the idea of Catalonia having more self-rule.

Many famous thinkers also worked with the alliance. These included Vicente Blasco Ibáñez, Miguel de Unamuno, Antonio Machado, and Gregorio Marañón.

What Was the Alliance's Goal?

Even though the groups had different political views, they were united by one main goal: they all opposed the monarchy and the dictatorship. They wanted Spain to become a republic.

How Did the Alliance Change Over Time?

In December 1929, some groups with more left-wing ideas left the alliance. These groups were led by Álvaro de Albornoz and Marcelino Domingo. They went on to create a new party called the Radical Socialist Republican Party.

This change encouraged the Republican Action group to become a full political party in early 1930. They stayed within the alliance, even though they had some disagreements with Lerroux's Radical Republican Party.

The Path to the Second Spanish Republic

On 14 May 1930, the Republican Alliance and the new Radical Socialist Republican Party joined forces. They formed a special committee that aimed to bring about a revolution. This committee played a big part in the creation of the Second Spanish Republic.

Several local republican groups also joined this cause. These included the Autonomous Galician Republican Organization from Galicia, led by Santiago Casares Quiroga, and the Autonomist Republican Union Party, led by Sigfrido Blasco-Ibáñez.

On 17 August 1930, Manuel Azaña and Alejandro Lerroux represented the Republican Alliance. They took part in a meeting called the Pact of San Sebastián. This pact was a key step towards forming the Provisional Government of the Republic.

When Did the Alliance End?

The Republican Alliance officially ended after the republic was declared. However, in the 1931 elections, some parts of the alliance still worked together with the Republican–Socialist Conjunction in certain areas.

Later, during the debates about the new constitution, the ties between the socialists, radical socialists, and Republican Action grew stronger. This led to Lerroux's radicals and other progressive members leaving the alliance. This event marked the formal end of the Republican Alliance.

See also

In Spanish: Alianza Republicana para niños

• Republican–Socialist Conjunction