The Decline of Spain’s Parliamentary Monarchy Under Alfonso XIII
The Monarchy of Alfonso XIII
Early 20th Century Spain
Spain began the 20th century reeling from the disaster of 1868. The gap between “official” and “vital” Spain was evident, necessitating the regeneration of the political, economic, and social systems. Industrial growth began, leading to the emergence of a middle class and proletariat. The political system, however, remained a fictional parliamentary system propped up by the oligarchy, characterized by caciquismo and electoral fraud, even after
Read MoreThe Rise of Basque Nationalism and the Reign of Isabel II
The Rise of Basque Nationalism
Sabino Arana, the engine of Basque nationalism, gathered and formalized burgeoning nationalist ideas circulating in Basque society in the 1890s. On July 31, 1895, the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) was founded with an anti-Spanish declaration and a goal of restoring traditional Basque territory and legal order. Initially, the PNV remained small, attracting only Arana’s closest followers. To broaden its support, the party expanded its base to include the modern industrial
Read MoreThe Second Spanish Republic: From Democracy to Civil War
The Second Spanish Republic (1931-1939)
The Second Republic, a pivotal moment in Spanish history, began in 1931 and concluded with the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War. The municipal elections of April 12th witnessed the downfall of the monarchy. Consequently, on April 14th, the Republic was proclaimed in Eibar and subsequently in several other cities. By nightfall, members of the Revolutionary Committee assumed control of the government and declared the Republic. Following the counsel of Romanones,
Read MoreThe Spanish Second Republic: From Radical Reforms to the Civil War
The Spanish Second Republic (1931-1939)
The Radical-CEDA Biennium (1933-1936)
Dissatisfaction with the Republic’s reforms among economic, social, and ideological groups (church, landowners, employers’ organizations, anarchists, monarchists, military) led to the reorganization of the right. These groups considered the reforms too radical and felt they represented a loss of power. Azaña lost popular support, the army ignored the demands of employers, and the right underestimated the organization of
Read MoreThe Second Spanish Republic (1931-1939): Reforms, Elections, and Civil War
The Second Spanish Republic (1931-1939)
Reformism: The Biennium (1931-1933)
After the adoption of the Constitution, a new period began with a government headed by Manuel Azaña and formed by Republicans and the Socialist Left. In December, Niceto Alcalá-Zamora was elected President of the Republic. The Republican-Socialist government embarked on a comprehensive reform program:
Labor Reforms
Started from the Ministry of Labor by the Socialist Largo Caballero, who favored the position of workers and
Read More20th Century Spain: Monarchy, Republic, & Franco
Reign of Alfonso XIII (1902-1931)
A. Constitutional Period (1902-1923)
- Increasingly erratic political parties until 1917.
- Crisis of 1917: General strike, Assembly of Parliamentarians, and Juntas.
- Post-war global economic crisis, internal political crisis, and social crisis. Anarchist social unrest and employer terrorism until 1923.
- Key works of the regime’s governments:
- Conservative Party (Maura):
- Local Administration Act: To remove caciquismo (political bossism).
- Regional Associations Act: Attempt at regional
- Conservative Party (Maura):