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 the implementation of universal suffrage in 1890.
Alfonso XIII’s Ascent
Upon Alfonso XIII’s declaration of age in 1902, the system of rotating parties continued. A “revolution from above” was envisioned, with the government assuming key positions for regeneration:
- Financial cleanup to address the budget deficit and the peseta’s depreciation.
- Social reform through protective labor laws, such as the Sunday rest law and the establishment of the Institute of Social Reform.
- Educational reform, including the Free Institute of Teaching.
Opposition
Several groups opposed the system, including Carlists, Republicans, peripheral nationalists (like Catalans), and the labor movement (anarchists and socialists). Groups like the Lliga and the Reform Party emerged, and the labor movement grew, but none posed a significant threat to the established order.
Maura’s Government (1907-1909)
Maura’s two years in power saw attempts at “regeneration”:
- Mutual approach between the people and the state.
- Electoral reform in 1907 to combat caciquismo.
- Local Government Act expanding municipal autonomy, which ultimately failed due to opposition.
- Proposal for interprovincial commonwealths.
- 1909 Right to Strike Law.
- Creation of the National Insurance Institute.
- Nationalist economic policy, including a focus on the marine industry and naval reconstruction.
The deployment of troops to Melilla led to the Tragic Week in Barcelona in July 1909:
- Organized by socialists, anarchists, and republicans.
- Marked by anti-clerical sentiment and public outrage.
- Severely repressed by the government, leading to Maura’s resignation.
Canalejas’ Liberalism (1909-1912)
Canalejas, the Liberal Party leader, represented the last hope of regeneration. His government’s key actions included:
- Replacing the consumption tax with an urban income tax.
- Compulsory military service.
- Continued social reforms through the Institute of Social Welfare.
- Institute of Finance Law.
- Law on religious congregations.
- Draft of commonwealths, addressing Catalan demands.
Canalejas’ assassination in November 1912 marked the end of the “rotating parties” and the attempted “revolution from above.”
Crisis of the Parliamentary Monarchy
The breakdown of the rotating party system initiated a crisis. Successive governments failed to address labor and economic issues. World War I exacerbated the situation, despite Spain’s neutrality. The war’s consequences included:
- Economic boost from exporting raw materials and goods.
- Recovery of foreign investment and increased gold reserves.
- Inflation due to an inability to increase production.
- Growth of unions, notably the CNT and UGT.
The Crisis of 1917
This year saw a major crisis manifest in three sectors:
- Military Defense Boards: Disgruntled military personnel organized into boards.
- Parliamentary Assembly: The parliamentary system faltered, and the government ruled by decree. Opposition attempts to convene constituent Cortes failed due to lack of collaboration.
- General Strike: A revolutionary general strike in August 1917, led by socialists and supported by anarchists, aimed to force the king’s abdication. The military suppressed the rebellion.
The crisis remained unresolved, and reforms were pending.
The Road to Dictatorship
. After the crisis of 1917 the system was damaged, the system was unworkable, and until 1923 seacudió to governments concentration. These governments were major problems: • Heterogeneity of the trends, which prevented the existence of any coherent program • Disappearance of the dynamics of turnismo, ending what remained of fiction entremayoría and opposition. 1917 was the final expiration of the system Cánovas.El problem in Morocco ended with the disaster of Annual in July 1921. This created a resentment of the military to the politicians, due to system malfunction, the regional problems and the social plight, which convinced them of the possibility of seizing power and interpretation of national will.