Spain’s 1917 Crisis: Military, Political, and Social Unrest
The Crisis of 1917 in Spain
Military Crisis
The military crisis centered around the defensa juntas. The army, a fundamental power for maintaining the monarchy, began to question the system and intervene in political life. The causes included governmental instability, a new law establishing merit-based promotions (benefiting the Moroccan Army), and low wages due to inflation.
This led to the formation of the defense juntas, associations that defended the economic and professional interests of the military. They pressured the civil authorities to legalize them, which increased their autonomy and political influence.
Political Crisis
The assembly of parliamentarians emerged in July 1917 in response to Eduardo Dato’s authoritarian actions, including the censorship of the press and the suspension of constitutional guarantees. This parliamentary assembly, comprised of the left-wing opposition and some liberals, created a civil movement demanding the convening of courts and the implementation of a reformist program.
Social Crisis: The Revolutionary General Strike
The tense social situation and the growing importance of unions favored the creation of a joint action committee between the CNT (National Confederation of Labor) and UGT (General Union of Workers). Despite their differences, socialists and anarchists drove a social revolution, calling for a revolutionary general strike in August 1917 to demand political change. The strike spread to major cities but lacked support from the parliamentary assembly and the military.
The Bipartisan System
Cánovas del Castillo created a bipartisan system, establishing his Conservative Party, which reflected the heritage of the moderates and found support in the upper classes. The lower bourgeoisie and the majority of the urban population aligned with Sagasta, forming the Liberal Party. Ideological differences were not sharply defined. Both parties were led by representatives of political eclecticism, fostering a period of relative peace.
Turnismo: Political Rotation
Elections were announced, and voters elected representatives from either party. The king then instructed the head of the majority party to form a government. Elections were governed by the 1878 electoral law based on census suffrage. If the head of government lost the confidence of the crown or the courts, they would step down, allowing the head of the other party to take over. The courts could also be dissolved, and new elections called to gauge public opinion.
This system allowed for an alternation between the two parties, contributing to a degree of stability since both adhered to the Constitution. The turnismo system worked by periodically granting power to both parties, not as a result of electoral shifts, but through mutual agreement.
The Pact of El Pardo
The crisis following the king’s death without a male heir was resolved through the Pact of El Pardo, agreed upon by Cánovas and Sagasta. This agreement involved a change of government, implementing the party’s shift system. María Cristina became regent, and Sagasta was appointed prime minister, ensuring that the period of relative peace was maintained.