The Reign of Alfonso XIII and the Rise of the Second Spanish Republic
Alfonso XIII
The age of Alfonso XIII began with a serious crisis that led to the Conservatives and Liberals to initiate reforms to regenerate the political and social life. Samuels-Polavieja and Antonio Maura attempted reforms until 1909, but were a failure. While the opposition was strengthened:
– The Republicans increased with the creation of the Republican Union and the Radical Party.
– The Catalan nationalist groups reached a broad electoral victory (Catalan Solidarity).
– Socialism (PSOE) and its trade union (UGT) consolidated presence in Madrid, the Basque Country and Asturias.
– Anarchists advocated terrorist acts and others formed the National Labor Confederation (CNT).
In 1909 there was an uprising in Barcelona as a measure of opposition to the War soldiers from Morocco, but was repressed (execution of Ferrer i Guardia). All enabling the resignation of Maura and the king commanded to organize a new government to the Liberals.
In 1910 Jose Candelejas attempt to strengthen the civil power against the Catholic Church. Start the decentralization of state that is reflected in the Commonwealth of Catalonia. But his assassination by anarchists opened a preiodo instability. Conservatives came to power in 1913.
Given the social, the conservative Eduardo Dato autoriataria ruled so closing the courts and ruling by decree. Movement protest was the result of social unrest. The political opposition demanded the resignation of the government and the convocation of the Cortes. Groups organized military defense together and faced politics. The CNT and UGT trade unions called a general strike. This deterioration politics and social life.
Between 1917 and 1923 there were thirteen governments over the lack of party support. With the crisis of 1917 Concentration governments were formed but the system stabilized. This wine with a strong social unrest and the unions grew in membership.
Politicians from left boosted workers’ mobilizations. In the Andalusian countryside, day laborers occupied lands and strikes paralyzed crops. But above all, for industrial workers was more intense struggle: the strike of the electricity company paralyzed the Canadian industry and services in Catalonia for 40 days. Given the situation was going into a process of social violence, so that employers helped unions docile and counter armed groups.
In 1921, the Annual Spanish army was defeated and killed many Spanish. The leftist opposition pidio responsibilities of defeat.
In 1923, Miguel Primo de Rivera, with the support of Alfonso XIII starred in a coup which led to a military dictatorship based on fascism. That is justified and constitutional parliamentary system was discredited and was unable to restore order and stop the social revolution. Suspended the constitution, dissolved parliament and banned political parties and unions. He dismissed the elected and blame the press. Abolished the Commonwealth of Catalonia, repressed intellectuals, teachers and leftist organizations. Thanks to the favorable international situation and purpose of the Moroccan conflict, estubo dictatorship in power.
By 1929 the crisis began to notice, and in 1930 the dictator resigned and Alfonso XIII named head of government to General Berenguer.
Republic
In April 1931, municipal elections showed the opposition to the regime that moarquico form an alliance to stand united for the elections while the monarchist parties appeared divided. The Republican coalition socialist victory in the big cities. The result showed rejection of the monarchy and the desire for change. Alfonso XIII exile on April 14, 1931, proclaimed a republic.
He formed a provisional government which began the first reforms:
– Amnesty for political prisoners and freedom.
– Social laws to improve the situation of day laborers.
– Autonomy (provisional Generalitat de Catalunya).
At first they had to deal with conflicts like the war in convents. In some cities, labor strikes erupted convened by the CNT. In June 1931 elections to the Constituent Cortes convened giving Republican majority to the Socialist coalition.
The Constitution recognized the proclaimed universal suffrage and non-denominational state, the declaration of rights and freedoms and public Drives. Recognized the right to private property. The legislative power resided in the courts, the executive in the cabinet and the President of the Republic.
The State was set up with the possibility of affirming itself autonomous governments. Niceto elgido Alcala Zamora was president of the republic, while Manuel Azaña presided over the government.
Manuel Azaña reform the army developed the law of withdrawals: retiring officers subdued the military to civilian authority, held the number of captain-general, disbanded the Military Academy of Zaragoza.
It reduces the weight of the Catholic Church and disbanded the state budget was abolished religion and clergy, forbade religious orders to teach. It introduced the marriage, burial and divoricio civil and secular state promoted education.
The constitution opened the way for decentralization. The Generalitat compose a state of autonomy in the Basque Country was approved in 1936 and in Galicia was stopped with the Civil War.
In some areas there existed thousands of landless and destitute, the property was privileged few. In 1932 decree uncultivated land expropriated to distribute.
Republican reformism landowners opposed him, the Catholic Church, part of the Army and upper and middle classes. In 1932, Sanjurjo coup was stopped by the government. But right regrouped in the Spanish Confederation of Autonomous Rights with Jose Maria Gil Robles in front. Emerged a group fascist Spanish Falange, led by Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera. Carlist monarchists and joined the opposition.
The slow pace of some reforms of exasperation laborers and workers. The UGT was radicalized by the IAF stationed armed insurrection to transform in a revolutionary manner, so staged several uprisings suppressed by force.
Repression of the Casas Viejas uprising ushered in crisis. Manuel Azaña Alcala Zamora resigned and disbanded the Parliament and called elections in November 1933 which were won by Alejandro Lerroux: paralyzed land reform and religious change in policy and amnesty for the rebels of the coup by General Sanjurjo. Leading to radical left.
The government reshuffle ushered three CEDA ministers and revolts broke out. In Asturias had social character. Anarchists, Socialists and Communists proclaimed the social revolution. In Catalonia, the Generalitat I keep the left coalition. Lluis Companys was that the headers.
There were elections in February 1936 because of the divergence in three games of the coalition of government and corruption scandals. Center-Left is presented. The Popular Front and the CNT were not involved, but supported them. The right block is divided into National were conservatives.
Center-left won the popular front and in May, Manuel Azaña was president of the republic and head of government Santiago Casares. Braking continued reforms in 1933 and reinstated the Generalitat.
The radical left social advocated reduction. The extreme right wanted a coup. The violence unleashed social tensions with the murder of Calvo Sotelo as the reprisals by the death of Lt. Castillo.