The Second Spanish Republic and the Crisis of the Late 19th Century

Posted on May 7, 2024 in History

II Republic

The Western world was experiencing a severe economic crisis with the consequences of the 1929 Crash, known as the Great Depression of the 1930s. From a political perspective, an international crisis was unfolding, leading many countries to adopt non-democratic solutions, such as fascism (Italy, Germany, and Austria) or communism (Soviet Russia). The people were turning to either fascism or communism. There were two attempts to end the Republic:

  • 1932: Failed coup d’état by General Sanjurjo, known as “The Sanjurjada”.
  • October 1934: Attempted revolution, known as the “Revolution of Asturias”.

2. Constitutional Period

2.1 Interim Government

Its members were those who signed the Pact of San Sebastian.

  • President: Alcalá-Zamora (Right-wing Liberal Republican)
  • Ministers: Miguel Maura (Right-wing Liberal Republican), Manuel Azaña (Republican Action), Alejandro Lerroux (Radical Republican Party), Indalecio Prieto (PSOE), Francisco Largo Caballero (PSOE), Nicolau d’Olwer (Catalan Regionalist), Casares Quiroga (Galician Regionalist)

Elections were called for the Constituent Cortes (June), which were won by far-left parties (PSOE). The monarchist parties did not participate as they opposed the Republic. Alcalá-Zamora resigned as president due to the adoption of a series of anticlerical constitutional requirements (October). The constitution was approved on December 31st. The Cortes elected Niceto Alcalá-Zamora as President of the Republic and offered the position of Prime Minister to Manuel Azaña. This established a two-headed system (President of the Republic and Head of Government) with two basic functions (the President elects the Government and can call and dissolve the Cortes).

2.2 Constitution of 1931

It was democratic and progressive.

Features:

  • Ability to establish autonomous governments in some regions, which could also be based on autonomy statutes (Catalonia, and during the Civil War, the Basque Country and Galicia).
  • Legislative: Unicameral – Congress of Deputies (Cortes)
  • Executive: Two-headed – President of the Republic elected by Parliament, and the President elects the Government and its ministers.
  • Comprehensive bill of rights and freedoms
  • Separation of Church and State
  • Recognition of civil marriage and divorce
  • Women’s suffrage
  • Popular sovereignty

The Left and Right faced two fundamental issues: religion and regionalism.

4. Crisis of the Late 19th Century

  • Economic Crisis: Between 1876 and 1886 (reign of Alfonso XII), Spain experienced a period known as the “Gold Fever” with strong economic growth and the peak years of Catalan industry.
  • Political Crisis: The political system was stable but had a serious flaw: it was not representative of public opinion, as elections were rigged.
  • Social Crisis: This was caused by the poor health of workers and peasants, and above all, by the serious problem of anarchist terrorism. Examples of anarchist terrorism include:
    • Attempted assassination of Martínez Campos (failed)
    • Assassination of Cánovas
    • Actions of the “Black Hand”
    • Bombing of the Liceu in Barcelona, which left 22 dead and many injured
  • Colonial Crisis or Loss of the Last Colonies: (Cuba, Puerto Rico, Philippines)
    • Cuba: It was the only colonial territory that Spaniards considered part of Spain. The main products were tobacco, coffee, and sugar. Many manufactured goods were imported from Spain.

1895 – The war in Cuba began with the “Grito de Baire”.

1896 – The war in the Philippines began.

The Minister of Overseas Affairs (responsible for the colonies), Antonio Maura i Montaner, from Palma, presented an autonomy plan for Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to Congress. The project was rejected by both the Spanish government and the majority population of the colonies. He resigned.

Those who led the independence wars were not indigenous people but Creoles, descendants of Spanish plantation owners, as it was in their economic interest.

Main leaders of the Cuban revolution: Máximo Gómez, Calixto García, José Martí (main leader)

Governor of the island: Arsenio Martínez Campos, replaced by Valeriano Weyler. Weyler changed tactics to try to win the war. He forced farmers to concentrate in cities, preventing them from working but also from joining the enemy army. This tactic was effective but led to an economic disaster in Cuba, as no one was cultivating the land.

Weyler was eventually replaced due to pressure from many people in Spain who had investments in Cuba.

  • The U.S. role was not neutral. U.S. aid to the insurgents was crucial. U.S. tabloids owned by William Randolph Hearst encouraged the war and fueled American contempt for Spain (which was still unknown).

1898 – The explosion of the battleship ‘Maine’ caused the U.S. to enter the war.

1898 – Defeat of the Spanish navy at the Battle of Santiago de Cuba and in Cavite, Philippines.

Spain lost the war. The Treaty of Paris was signed, and Spain recognized the independence of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.

The loss of the last colonies plunged Spanish public opinion into a deep depression, which manifested mainly in the Generation of ’98 (Valle-Inclán, Azorín).