Spain in the Early 20th Century: Society, Economy, and Crisis
Spain in the Early 20th Century: Society, Economy, and the Crisis of 1917
Demographic and Social Changes
In 1900, Spain’s population exceeded 18 million. The nation experienced a demographic recovery following the late 19th-century crisis, marked by a significant decrease in mortality and a slight decline in birth rates. Significant migratory processes were directed towards Catalonia, the Basque Country, and Madrid, with people leaving economically depressed regions like Extremadura, Andalusia, and Murcia. Urbanization increased as people moved from rural areas to cities seeking better working and living conditions.
Andalusia, a predominantly agricultural region, saw its urban population surpass half a million by 1900, with Seville and Malaga being the most populated cities. Spain’s population was young and largely agrarian. However, the secondary sector began to grow from the first third of the 20th century, representing 23% of the workforce by the 1920s. Illiteracy rates were alarmingly high, especially in parts of Andalusia, where 70% of the population was illiterate. This was due to low investment in education. Education was a major concern of regenerationist Joaquin Costa, who advocated for its expansion across Spain and improved conditions for teachers. Religious orders controlled much of Spain’s education. Canalejas’ Liberal government approved the “Padlock Law” in 1911, banning new religious orders from entering Spain.
Economic Developments
The late 19th-century cereal crisis was mitigated by the phasing out of less productive wheat crops. Vines and olives were other important agricultural sectors. The loss of the Colonial Empire severely impacted the textile industry, depriving it of key markets. This sector was characterized by:
- Strong regionalization of industries like textiles (Catalonia) and steel (Basque Country).
- Heavy dependence on foreign investment.
- Strong state protectionism through tariffs.
Major Spanish banks grew during this period, partly due to the repatriation of capital from Cuba and the Philippines. One example is the Banco Hispano Americano. During Alfonso XIII’s reign, Spain transitioned into a capitalist society, significantly impacting the working class and peasantry, who organized through unions like the UGT (General Workers’ Union) and CNT (National Confederation of Labor).
The Moroccan Protectorate and the Algeciras Conference
After the loss of its colonial empire in 1898, Spain focused on North Africa. In 1906, Spain began its penetration into the region. The Algeciras Conference (1906) established a Franco-Spanish protectorate in Morocco, granting Spain a northern strip, the Rif. Spain’s interest was driven by potential economic benefits (mines, public works) and the desire to restore the army’s prestige, a view promoted by “Africanist” military officers.
The Rif War and the Tragic Week of 1909
Continuous attacks by the Rifians required a strong Spanish military presence, which intensified after the Spanish defeat at the Barranco del Lobo in 1909. Mobilization against the war began in Barcelona in July 1909 during troop embarkation. The ensuing revolt, known as the Tragic Week, lasted a week and was marked by anti-militarist sentiment and rejection of the Church’s social and cultural hegemony.
A strike committee, comprising Republicans, Socialists, and Anarchists, called for a general strike. This escalated into a spontaneous outburst of social tensions. Incidents multiplied, barricades were erected, and clashes with law enforcement occurred. Authorities declared a state of war and sent reinforcements. The army quelled the uprising by August 2nd, and the city returned to normal.
The government’s subsequent repression was severe. Numerous radical anarchists were blamed, and 17 death sentences were handed down, including that of Francisco Ferrer y Guardia, a freethinking pedagogue accused of being the ideological inspiration, despite not directly participating.
The Crisis of 1917
Besides the Moroccan War and the Tragic Week, other factors contributed to the crisis of 1917, including the consequences of World War I in Spain. The economic situation resulting from the war increased social differences and created a climate of tension, exacerbated by the end of the postwar economic euphoria. This tension erupted in 1917, combining political difficulties, military discontent, and social unrest into a public outcry against the government, leading to the crisis of 1917. This was a triple crisis: cultural, political, and social.