Spain 1909-1923: Tragic Week, Crisis, and Dictatorship
The Tragic Week and its Aftermath in Spain (1909)
The Spanish colony in Northern Morocco faced numerous challenges. Following the defeat at the Barranco del Lobo by Berber forces, the Spanish government decided to reinforce its troops by calling up reservists. These reservists were concentrated in Barcelona, awaiting deployment.
Republicans, socialists, and anarchists strongly opposed this military campaign. They viewed it as an imperialist war, believing that the conscription system disproportionately harmed the poor. A general strike was called, marking a pivotal moment in the Spanish labor movement. This strike represented a well-organized urban revolution and signaled the beginning of a period of increasing radicalization.
During the so-called Tragic Week, uncontrolled violence erupted. Clashes with law enforcement occurred through demonstrations, barricades, and the burning of churches and convents, revealing a resurgence of extreme anticlericalism. The army’s response was brutal, resulting in numerous arrests. Lerroux was exiled, and many were executed, including Francisco Ferrer Guardia, an anarchist pedagogue held responsible for the revolt. A strong campaign against Prime Minister Maura arose, both domestically and internationally, with the slogan “Maura, No!”.
The Triple Crisis of 1917 and its Consequences
The triple crisis of 1917, although seemingly overcome by the Cánovas political system, left it fatally weakened. Instability and progressive radicalization led to the formation of coalition governments, incorporating prominent politicians from various factions (Maura, Romanones, Cambó, etc.). However, internal strife and external pressures prevented their consolidation.
In 1918, news of the successful communist revolution in Russia fueled strikes and confrontations with the government, law enforcement, and employers. This period, particularly intense in Andalusia, has been referred to as the Bolshevik Triennium.
In 1920, the end of World War I brought about an economic downturn. This crisis intensified social tensions and further radicalized the labor movement. In the Andalusian countryside, riots were continuous, and in Barcelona, the situation reached a critical point.
Following the “La Canadiense” strike, Catalan pistolerismo emerged. Employers formed “free trade unions,” which were essentially groups of hired gunmen and thugs who confronted anarchists, often with the tacit support of the government (through the application of the “Ley de Fugas” – the law of escape, allowing police to shoot fleeing suspects). Moderate anarchist leaders, employers, and politician Eduardo Dato were assassinated.
The Annual Disaster and Primo de Rivera’s Dictatorship
The Annual Disaster and its subsequent consequences served as a casus belli. The defeat of Spanish troops at Annual had a significant impact on Spain. The King and the army were held responsible. The Picasso Report, which implicated the King and the army in the disaster, was about to be discussed in the Cortes (Parliament), but time ran out.
General Primo de Rivera, Captain General, with the support of the army, the Catalan bourgeoisie, and the tacit consent of the King, staged a coup d’état, initiated by a simple telegram. This marked the beginning of Primo de Rivera’s dictatorship.
Regenerationism and its Failure
The crisis of 1898 represented the beginning of the regeneration of the Cánovas system (characterized by an internal constitution, bipartisanism, and civilian leadership). The common diagnosis was that the cause of the disaster lay in the nation’s backwardness. To overcome this, it was deemed necessary to end despotism and modernize Spain.
Different approaches to regeneration emerged:
- The “revolution from above” by the dynastic parties failed due to the Tragic Week, internal divisions, and the end of the *turnismo* (the system of alternating power between the two main parties).
- Peripheral nationalisms were quickly aborted due to the failure of the Parliamentary Assembly, fueled by the fear of social revolution.
- Primo de Rivera’s military regenerationism also ultimately failed.