Spain: From the Disaster of 1898 to the Second Republic
The Disaster of 1898 and its Aftermath
Anarchism in Spain
The prominent anarchist leader in Spain, Anselmo Lorenzo, faced challenges due to the lack of organization within the anarchist movement. The decline of anarchist organizations and influence coincided with the emergence of new ideas like propaganda of the deed and direct action, which gained traction in parts of Europe.
Barcelona witnessed numerous anarchist attacks. In 1893, an anarchist attacked the Captain General of Catalonia, Martínez Campos. Shortly after, Santiago Salvador threw two bombs at the Liceu theater, killing 20 people. Another attack at the Corpus Christi procession resulted in several deaths and led to the Montjuïc trials, where many were sentenced to death. As a consequence, Prime Minister Antonio Cánovas del Castillo was assassinated by an anarchist in 1897. The government cracked down on the anarchist party while also beginning to address the social conditions that fueled unrest. In 1883, the Commission of Social Reforms was established, marking the first initiative to improve workers’ living conditions. This included measures like limiting child labor and providing support for those injured in workplace accidents.
The Spanish-American War and the Loss of Colonies
In 1898, Cuba gained independence from Spain, definitively ending the uneasy peace established by the Pact of Zanjón in 1878. While the pact granted Cuba a degree of autonomy, it failed to quell unrest and ongoing Cuban demands for independence. Furthermore, U.S. economic interests in Cuba, particularly in the sugar trade, played a significant role. The U.S. began providing weapons and military advisors to Cuban rebels and eventually sought a pretext for direct intervention.
The sinking of the USS Maine in Havana harbor provided that pretext. The U.S. blamed Spain for the explosion, galvanizing American public opinion in favor of war. The ensuing Spanish-American War resulted in Spain’s defeat and the loss of its remaining colonies: Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and the Mariana Islands. Spain was forced to sign the Treaty of Paris on December 10, 1898.
The Impact of the Disaster (1898-1902)
The loss of Spain’s overseas colonies in 1898 was not an isolated event in Europe. Other Latin countries faced similar situations against Anglo-Saxon imperialism. While the loss was perceived as a catastrophe in Spain, it wasn’t a complete national collapse. The monarchy remained, the state apparatus adapted to the losses incurred during the colonial war, and political parties continued to alternate in power.
However, the trauma of 1898 marked the beginning of a growing crisis of state power, characterized by internal divisions within the government and political instability. Between 1901 and 1923, Spain saw 32 changes in prime ministers. The Restoration system faced increasing opposition from the labor movement and segments of the urban middle class. Much of the political class and public opinion embraced the ideological values of Regenerationism, a movement advocating for political and social reform.