Spain’s History: Alfonso XIII’s Reign to the Civil War

Posted on Dec 8, 2024 in History

Alfonso XIII’s Reign (1902-1931)

During the early decades of the 20th century, the system of continuous restoration was present but was heading towards its demise. Some events that marked its disappearance were:

  • The Tragic Week of Barcelona: Due to the enlistment of reservists among popular classes to be dislocated to North Africa, many of them died.
  • The foundation of the National Labor Confederation (CNT) in Barcelona (1911), a highly influential anarchist labor union, produced serious confrontations between CNT militants and gunmen hired by entrepreneurs.
  • Several general strikes, the most important of which was in 1917.
  • A radical nationalist atmosphere in parts of Spain, particularly Catalonia.
  • The birth of a nationalist movement in the army (military juntas) that omitted nepotism in the promotion of military officers in Morocco.

Dictatorship of Miguel Primo de Rivera (1923-1930)

  • This revolutionary situation and the disasters of the war in Morocco provoked the reaction of a military sector and the bourgeoisie to establish a dictatorship.
  • It was sanctioned by King Alfonso XIII.
  • The constitution was removed, and the party harshly reprimanded unions and nationalists.
  • The war in Morocco ended with a victory.
  • The economic crisis of 1929 had repercussions in Spain and brought down the dictatorship in 1930.

King Alfonso XIII retook the constitutional system, but the monarchy had been discredited by having supported the dictatorship.

The Pact of San Sebastian

  • It was affirmed in 1930 when the major opposition parties agreed to end the monarchy and install the Republic.
  • Before the government’s refusal to resign, there were many uprisings, which were violently suppressed.
  • Due to social pressure, municipal elections were called for April 12, 1931.

April 14, 1931

The municipal elections of April 12 became a referendum in which it was decided between the monarchy and the Republic.

  • The Republican option won the elections, and on April 14, 1931, the Republic was declared, and King Alfonso XIII was forced to abandon the country.

Provisional Government

  • Members who had participated in the Pact of San Sebastian constituted the interim government, chaired by Niceto Alcalá Zamora, with the commitment to convene general elections on June 28, 1931.

Constitution of 1931

  • The elections were won by Socialists and Republicans.
  • The parliament was responsible for approving a new constitution on December 9, 1931, which included popular sovereignty, the right of autonomy, religious freedom, women’s voting rights, and individual and collective rights.

The Democratic Republic

Existing Forces

  • Right: Spanish Confederation of Autonomous Rights (CEDA) led by Gil-Robles, Spanish Restoration led by Calvo Sotelo.
  • Center: Radical Party led by Alejandro Lerroux.
  • Left: Republican Action led by Manuel Azaña, Socialist Party (moderate) led by Indalecio Prieto, (radical) led by Largo Caballero.
  • Nationalist parties: PNV, ERC.

Left Government (1931-1933)

  • The government of Manuel Azaña began making substantial reforms. This reformist policy provoked opposition from right-wing forces.
  • Reforms: Agrarian reform consisted of expropriating land and increasing the number of laborers. Religious reforms established a secular state, permitted civil marriage and divorce. Military reforms gave the option of retirement with full pay to all officers who did not swear allegiance to the Republic. Educational reforms prohibited religious orders from teaching, established secular, public schools, created libraries, improved teacher training, and modernized universities. Nationalist reforms started opening to the statutes of autonomy of the Basque Country, Catalonia, and Galicia.
  • In 1932 in Seville, a failed military uprising took place led by General Sanjurjo, who was taken prisoner.

Center-Right Government (1933-1936)

  • The 1933 elections were won by the Radical Party of Alejandro Lerroux. This party, together with the CEDA of Gil-Robles, obtained the majority.
  • They reviewed the reforms of the previous stage and froze them. This created political tension between the right and left.
  • Important events during this period: The UGT declared a general strike in Asturias. There was a miners’ uprising that had to be controlled by the army. The Catalan government proclaimed a Catalan state and was jailed in full. In 1935, people from the Radical Party were involved in a huge financial scandal, and Alcalá Zamora decided to convene elections.

The Return of the Left (1936)

  • The elections were won by the Popular Front.
  • Manuel Azaña became President of the Republic, and Casares Quiroga became President of the Government.
  • They accelerated the reforms that had started at the beginning of the Republic.
  • Important events during this period: All political prisoners were granted amnesty. Catalonia recovered its economic powers. Public order problems began to escalate. Traditional industries and the army were preparing a coup d’état. The murder of Calvo Sotelo on July 13 detonated the military coup.

Civil War

The Military Uprising

  • The undisputed leader of the uprising was General Sanjurjo, who was in exile in Portugal and had a project in common with Calvo Sotelo.
  • Some important generals joined the project and were therefore relocated by the government far from Madrid, anticipating a possible uprising: Franco to the Canary Islands, Mola to Pamplona, Goded to the Balearic Islands, and Queipo de Llano to Seville.
  • The military uprising began in Melilla on July 17, 1936, and on the 18th, it was followed by other military barracks in the peninsula.

Two blocks were created:

  • Nationalists: Monarchist forces, traditionalists, and Falangists, faithful to the military uprising, were favored by German and Italian fascism.
  • Republicans: Government forces loyal to the Republic were favored by the USSR and the International Brigades.

Evolution of the War

  • The Nationalist goal was to occupy Madrid to end the war as soon as possible, but the city successfully resisted.
  • Then they headed north. During this conquest came the bombing of Gernika.
  • The Nationalist army advanced until it reached the Mediterranean, dividing the Republican zone.
  • After the Battle of the Ebro, the Nationalists captured Barcelona on February 26, 1939.
  • Later, on April 1, Madrid fell.