Spain’s Early 20th Century: Reforms, Crises, and Social Upheaval
Dynastic Reformism and Early 20th Century Spain
First Government Regeneration: Silvela’s Reforms (1899-1901)
In 1899, Regent Maria Cristina I appointed the conservative Silvela to lead the government. He initiated a reformist policy, including administrative decentralization projects, but also pursued a stringent budgetary policy. This prompted a new tax burden, leading taxpayers to boycott the collection of tributes in 1901. Consequently, the Regent granted power to the liberals due to these reforms.
Maura and Canalejas: Regenerationist Reforms (1902-1912)
In the spring of 1902, Alfonso XIII ascended the throne. By 1903, Maura assumed leadership of the Conservative Party, while Canalejas led the Liberal Party. These prominent Regenerationists brought new momentum to reform projects from within the system.
Maura’s “Revolution from Above” (1904-1909)
In 1904, Maura became head of government. His political project was encapsulated in the slogan “revolution from above”, which defended the need for the regime to reform from the government to prevent a popular revolution. For this purpose, electoral reform was conducted, leading to the Electoral Law of 1907. While this law failed to end corruption or fully democratize the political system, it did decrease electoral fraud. Maura attempted to reach agreements with the Catalans and also adopted economic measures to revive domestic industry. He created the National Welfare Institute, aimed at maintaining public order.
Canalejas’ Liberal Government (1910-1912)
In 1910, Canalejas formed a Liberal government that proposed the modernization of politics, including the separation of church and state and its funding procedures. In 1910, the Padlock Law was promulgated, limiting the creation of new religious orders. Another significant measure was the substitution of the consumption tax with a progressive sales tax. Additionally, a series of laws were enacted to improve working conditions.
Decomposition of the System and Social Unrest
Political Disintegration (Post-1917)
The dynastic parties fragmented into different groups headed by various politicians. From 1917, the solution of concentration governments was often employed; the most important was the National Government led by Maura in 1918. Failed concentration governments reverted to the dynastic turn. Despite resorting to electoral fraud, no dynastic party could secure a parliamentary majority to govern, and constant measures included the suspension of constitutional guarantees and the closing of parliament.
Labor Conflict and Gangsterism
In Spain, the European conflict prompted a sudden change in economic conditions: production fell, unemployment rose, and prices soared. This provoked a mobilization of workers and an ever-growing syndicalism in Barcelona. The strike movement reached major dimensions. In 1919, a strike began at La Canadiense, which finalized with an agreement. However, the breach of the promise led to a resumption of the strike, businesses were closed, and there was a crackdown in Andalucía. The misery of the peasantry led to three years of ‘Bolshevik’ revolts. Anarchist and socialist movements led peasant uprisings. The declaration of a state of war, the outlawing of labor organizations, and the detention of their leaders ended the rebellion.
The labor conflict degenerated into a hardening of positions between unions and employers. Employers’ Federations were instituted and hired gunmen. The Free Trade Union was also founded, which practiced violent activism and threatened authorities. Martínez Anido exercised harsh repression against union members, leading to the era known as Pistolerismo.
The Disaster of Annual (1921)
The Rif tribes harassed the Spanish army. The general started an offensive into Morocco, but the Spanish forces were decisively defeated at Annual.