Spain’s 1898 Crisis: Fall of Empire and National Regeneration
- The colonial empire’s collapse and the crisis of 1898.
With the help of these two documents, we begin our examination of the colonial empire’s collapse and the crisis of 1898. This period, spanning the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries, marks a key milestone in Spanish history, representing a clear before and after. The foreign policy of the Restoration (the return of the Bourbon monarchy) brought numerous negative consequences. Internationally, Spain’s decline to a second-rate power was confirmed, marked by the loss of its last American colonies and the problematic African adventures that followed. Domestically, these events, in addition to causing wars, radicalized an already unstable political and social environment. By the end of the 19th century, Spain was internationally isolated, excluded from Bismarckian systems. The 1890s also witnessed an international realignment of colonies, resulting in the loss of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines.
The first paper shows…
The second paper describes…
Key terms include: Restoration, Treaty of Zanjon, Maine Incident, Treaty of Paris, Spain Oficial, Spain Real, nationalism, regionalism, and regenerationism. I will elaborate on these issues further.
This information will facilitate analysis of the fall of the colonial empire and the crisis of 1898, a pivotal moment in 20th-century Spanish history. To better understand this, let’s briefly examine the background. The 1878 Treaty of Zanjon (document detailing the capitulation of the Cuban independence army, ending the Ten Years’ War), signed by Martinez Campos, promised autonomy, but these promises were not kept. Maura’s proposed autonomy project for Cuba failed, leading to an 1895 separatist insurgency after the Cry of Baire (beginning of the war), led by José Martí.
Following Cánovas’ death, Sagasta’s approval of an autonomy project for Cuba proved too late. The war’s causes stemmed from economic and political interests: the Cuban oligarchy’s pursuit of political and economic independence, and the political and economic interests of the USA. This led to the loss of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines, resulting in the profound crisis of 1898. This crisis signified more than just territorial losses; it represented a moral and collective depression, marking the end of an era and the beginning of another, initiating the crisis of the Restoration.
The Conflict
Guerrilla Warfare: The war, beginning in 1895, saw José Martí incite rebellion in the island’s more anti-Spanish east. Martínez Campos’ attempts at negotiation with Cánovas failed, leading to his replacement by General Weyler. Weyler divided the island into three provinces using trails (shortcuts). Despite Spain’s near victory, U.S. intervention occurred.
U.S. Intervention: President McKinley protested Weyler’s harshness and attempted to purchase Cuba for $300 million, an offer refused by the Spanish government. The Americans viewed Cuba and Puerto Rico as extensions of their own territory. The Maine Incident (explosion of a U.S. warship on February 15, 1898, of uncertain origin) provided the pretext for an ultimatum to Spain on April 20, 1898, effectively declaring war. Faced with unequal forces, a wave of patriotism swept Spain. The war, fought on two fronts (Pacific and Caribbean), resulted in an easy American victory, with American troops easily seizing the islands.
The Treaty of Paris (ending the war), signed in December 1898, saw Spain lose its remaining overseas empire, granting independence to Cuba and Puerto Rico, ceding the Philippines, and selling Guam and other Pacific islands to the U.S. Spain attempted to compensate for these losses by exploiting Morocco. Economically, Catalan textile exports suffered, leading to increased trade protectionism. The most significant consequences, however, were moral and psychological, resulting in a climate of collective depression and the realization of Spain’s diminished international standing. This led to the rise of Regenerationism and the Generation of ’98.
Problems Shaping 20th-Century Spain
Socio-economic problems
Linked to land ownership and the country’s industrialization model.Political problems
Resulting from the disconnect between Spain Oficial (official Spain) and Spain Real (real Spain).Regional problems
With the rise of nationalism and regionalism.Religio-cultural problems
The conflict between religious refuge and the creation of a secular state.Military problems
Militarism’s influence on national political life.