Primo de Rivera’s Dictatorship: Causes, Actions, and Impact

Posted on Mar 7, 2025 in History

In 1917, several issues contributed to the dictatorship of Miguel Primo de Rivera, including the Moroccan War and a political crisis. Primo de Rivera was appointed chairman in 1922. On September 13, 1923, ministers declared a state of war directed towards Madrid and demanded the resignation of King Alfonso XIII’s cabinet.

Primo de Rivera’s ideas were outlined in the Primo Manifesto, which aimed to cleanse the country of corrupt leaders, strikes, and threats. Alfonso XIII was accused of abetting the coup. In 1923, the Military Directorate was established, with Primo de Rivera as chairman. The government included a military general for each region, intended as a temporary measure to resolve the crisis and restore normalcy.

Key Measures Implemented

  • The Constitution of 1876 was suspended.
  • The courts were dissolved.
  • All political parties and unions were banned.

Primo de Rivera addressed terrorism with the help of General Martinez Anido, implementing policies to eliminate terrorist attacks. The Moroccan problem was resolved by changing policy and collaborating with the French against Abd-el-Krim. Efforts were also made to combat despotism by creating municipal and provincial statutes. The CNT union was dissolved, and the Catalan Commonwealth (an administrative body grouping four municipalities) was abolished. The use of the Catalan language and the FC Barcelona field was prohibited.

In September 1925, the Civil Board replaced the Military Directorate, incorporating political figures such as Conde Guadalhorze, Calvo Sotelo, and Eduardo. Primo de Rivera created the Patriotic Union in 1924 to garner social support, modeling its structure after Mussolini’s fascism.

Political and Social Policies

  1. 1 The National Assembly was established to prepare laws for the new regime and abolish universal suffrage.
  2. 2 Deputies were required to be affiliated with the Patriotic Union.
  3. 3 Social policies included forbidding the CNT covenant, while the UGT collaborated with the dictator. The goal was to achieve equilibrium between supply and demand, develop productive sectors, and stabilize prices of essential goods. Joint committees formed by workers continued to exist, decreasing strikes after 1923.

Economic Progress and Achievements

Sizes and economic progress achievements included:

  1. a) The Industrial Protection Law of 1926 established tariffs to prevent foreign competition and created the Industrial Credit Bank.
  2. b) Establishment of large state monopolies, such as the telephone company CAMPSA (oil monopoly).
  3. c) A public works plan with a special budget for transportation, improving roads, and railways.
  4. d) A National Plan for affordable housing.
  5. e) A waterworks program.

Other measures included the International Expositions of Barcelona and Seville and the creation of the National Network of inns.

Final Assessment

Despite economic progress, the economic policy led to a public deficit. Calvo Sotelo increased taxes and introduced a tax on industrial profits. Regionalism, political parties, press freedoms, and social inequalities were not resolved, nor was the land problem addressed.