Alfonso XIII’s Reign: Challenges and Reform Attempts
The Reign of Alfonso XIII: A Historical Overview
The reign of Alfonso XIII was marked by significant challenges. His governments struggled to find solutions, and their projects often sparked controversy and opposition, leading to frequent cabinet changes.
Main Problems During Alfonso XIII’s Reign
There were four main issues:
The Constitutional Question
The 1876 Constitution needed reform to reflect Spain’s new social and political reality. This included removing outdated practices like patronage and electoral fraud, and integrating new political forces such as regionalism, nationalism, socialism, and republicanism.
The Religious Issue
Antagonism between anti-clericalism and clericalism fueled the religious issue. The Liberal Party adopted anti-clericalism as a political stance, leading to unfortunate events like attacks on religious figures. The controversy centered on religious freedom, religious associations, the reduction of dioceses and church offices, and religious education.
The Military Question
The Army required a thorough reform. Its excessive payroll consumed most of the budget, hindering the modernization of military equipment. The military also became increasingly conservative. The war in Morocco exposed these defects. Criticism led the military to isolate itself from society, creating internal and external problems. This began to undermine the harmony between civil and military power established by Cánovas and Alfonso XII.
The Social Question
The labor movement was a constant problem, with strikes and violence becoming common tactics. Although socialist (UGT) and anarchist (CNT) unions gained ground, these social forces were not integrated into the system. The PSOE maintained an ambiguous stance towards the monarchy and debated joining the Third International. The refusal of Fernando de los Ríos led to a split, resulting in the formation of the Spanish Communist Party (PCE) in 1921. Governments took timid measures to address these issues, such as establishing Sunday rest and regulating the right to strike.
Attempts at Reform and Regeneration
The Work of Silvela, Samuels, and Maura (1902-1909)
Attempts to modernize the Liberal government of Francisco Silvela failed due to disagreements between the Minister of War, General Polavieja, and Finance Minister Fernández Villaverde. Polavieja’s reform program was deemed impossible, leading to his resignation and Samuels’s retirement from politics.
Antonio Maura then initiated a program of internal renewal, ruling on two occasions and influencing the period between 1903 and 1909. His goal was to solve political problems through a revolution from above, reforming the state and connecting parties with the needs of the people. He addressed issues like patronage and regionalism, conceiving the Local Government Act.
The Tragic Week in Barcelona and its Consequences
The Tragic Week in Barcelona brought down Maura. Protests against the mobilization of Catalan reservists for the war in Morocco led to an uprising, fueled by Alejandro Lerroux and revolutionary anarchism. The harsh repression, including the execution of anarchist leader Antonio Ferrer Guardia, sparked protests and led to Maura’s dismissal. This event created a rift between liberals and Maura, and fractured the Conservative party into Amauristas and Datistas.
Canalejas’ Reformism (1910-1912)
José Canalejas, a liberal politician, made a second attempt to rebuild the country and save the monarchy. His actions included:
- Establishing a progressive tax on urban incomes.
- Addressing the clerical problem by enacting the Padlock Law.
- Taking a decisive role in the Moroccan question.
- Militarizing 12,000 strikers during a railway strike, distinguishing between protest and revolutionary strikes.
- Taking steps to address Catalan regionalism with the Draft Commonwealth.
However, Canalejas’s efforts were cut short by his assassination.