Spain: 20th Century History – Alfonso XIII to Civil War

Posted on Feb 26, 2025 in History

Phase I: Alfonso XIII (1902-1923)

  • 1902: Alfonso XIII is proclaimed king.
  • 1905: Deployment to Catalan periodicals.
  • 1906: Conference in solidarity based in Algeciras. Catalan solidarity.
  • 1907: Maura Government. Creation along Barcelona. Law of worker solidarity in the protection of domestic industry.
  • 1908: The National Institute for is created.
  • 1909: War starts in Morocco. Tragic Week in Barcelona (July).
  • 1910: Canalejas chairs the government.
  • 1912: Count Romanones Government after the assassination of Canalejas.
  • 1913: Conservative government of Eduardo Dato.
  • 1914: First World War breaks out.
  • 1915: Begins a period of economic expansion.
  • 1917: A revolutionary general strike (August).
  • 1921: Battle of Annual.
  • 1923: Coup of General Primo de Rivera (September 13); military directory.

Phase II: Primo de Rivera (1923-1930)

  • 1923: Military coup of General Primo de Rivera (September 13).
  • 1924: Creation of the Patriotic Union.
  • 1925: Alhucemas landing. A civilian directory is established.
  • 1926: War ends in Morocco. National consultative assembly is established.
  • 1927: Foundation of the FAI.
  • 1929: Student demonstrations and the closure of the University of Madrid.
  • 1930: Resignation of General Rivera. Government of Berenger. Pact of San Sebastian. Attempted military coup: Revolt of Jaca (December 15).
  • 1931: Government of Admiral Aznar (February). Municipal elections (April 12).

Phase III: The Second Republic (1931-1936)

  • 1931: Provisional government is reinstated. Generalitat de Catalunya (May). Burning of convents (May). Azaña decrees for the reform of the army (June). Elections to Constitutional Courts (June 28). Female vote approved. Debate in promulgating the constitution (December 9). Alcalá Zamora elected president of the Republic. Beginning of the progressive biennium chaired by Azaña (December).
  • 1932: General Sanjurjo revolt (August 10). The courts adopted the Statute of Catalonia and the agrarian reform law.
  • 1933: Peasant riots. Events at Casas Viejas (January). CEDA is founded. Foundation of Falange. Resignation of the Azaña government. Elections. Government of Martínez Barrio. Government of Gil Robles (November). Start of the right-wing biennium (December).
  • 1934: The left-wing Republican sleeve. Revolution of October. Formation of the Catalan Bloc.
  • 1935: New farm bill, which repeals the previous one (September). Estraperlo scandal. Resignation of Lerroux (October).
  • 1936: Dissolution of the Cortes. General elections. Victory of the Popular Front (February 16). Manuel Azaña elected president of the Republic. Government chaired by Santiago Casares Quiroga. The land reform law of 1932 is restored. Assassinations of Lieutenant Castillo and Deputy Calvo Sotelo (July 12 and 13). Military rebellion in Morocco (July 17).

Phase IV: The Civil War (1936-1939)

  • 1936: Military uprising in Morocco (July 17). The rebellion spreads to the peninsula. The war begins (July 18). The Prime Minister, Casares Quiroga, resigns. Government of Martínez Barrio. José Giral chairs the government (July 19). The rebel troops took Badajoz (August 14). Irún occupied by rebels and San Sebastián (September). New Republican administration headed by Largo Caballero. The rebels take Toledo (September 27). Franco is named head of state of the Spanish government. The Republican government moves to Valencia. Battle of Madrid begins (November 7).
  • 1937: The Nationalist army occupies Málaga (February). Republican victory in the Battle of Guadalajara (March).
  • 1938: First government of the exile (February 1). The Labor Charter was enacted in Nationalist Spain. The Battle of the Ebro begins (July 24).
  • 1939: The Nationalist Army entered Madrid (March 28). End of the war (April 1).