Spain’s Political Turmoil: Alfonso XIII to the Second Republic

Posted on Mar 4, 2025 in History

The Reign of Alfonso XIII and the Beginning of Restoration Political Problems

Key challenges during the early Restoration period:

  1. Upheaval to the political system.
  2. Dealing with the demands of workers in the sector.
  3. Need for the PSOE, regionalist, and Republican forces to acquire new audiences.

Conservative and Liberal Political Parties

  • Conservative: Cánovas, Silvela, Maura.
  • Liberal: Sagasta, Montero Ríos, Moret, Canalejas.

The Three Revolutions of Summer 1917

Three concurrent crises:

  1. Military unrest (Juntas de Defensa).
  2. Political challenge (Assembly of Parliamentarians).
  3. Social unrest (General Strike).

The Juntas de Defensa were successful. The monarchy attempted to appease the army.

Major Problems in Spain Since 1917

  1. Lack of political stability.
  2. Increased worker movement activity.
  3. Colonial losses.

Primo de Rivera’s Coup d’État: State Position and Purpose

  • The left clearly favored the Nationalist generals from then on.
  • Spain ceased to be a parliamentary monarchy and became an authoritarian regime.
  • The dictatorship was not intended to be permanent, but rather a temporary measure.

The Constitution of 1931

  • Type of State: Democratic and secular.
  • Suffrage: Universal; women were entitled to vote.
  • Ownership: Property rights were subject to the public interest.
  • State Model: Addressed regional autonomy, but with a powerful central state.

The Casas Viejas Incident

The events at Casas Viejas shocked the Spanish public. The right strongly criticized the government in Congress. The left and the public grew more distrustful of the Republic. The CNT, the most radical anarchist group, gained influence at the expense of the moderate socialist UGT.

Right-Wing Groups

  • Popular Action: Gil Robles (CEDA).
  • Spanish Renovation: Calvo Sotelo, Goicoechea.
  • Traditionalist Communion: Fal Conde, Rodezno.
  • Other Groups:
    • Alfonsinos
    • Falange
    • JONS (Primo de Rivera)
    • Lliga Regionalista
    • PNV (Basque Nationalist Party)

Decisions and Consequences of the Right-Wing Government

Reversal of reforms initiated by Azaña’s government:

  1. Workers’ wages were reduced, and achievements from the previous two years were rolled back.
  2. Laws were formulated to allow the Church to teach and receive public funds.
  3. Military officers who had been sidelined in the previous two years were promoted.
  4. Relations between Madrid and Catalonia deteriorated, and no further regional statutes were granted.

Program and Composition of the Popular Front

The choice is not between workers and the bourgeoisie, but between democracy and fascism. The Popular Front united workers, the middle class, socialists, communists, and anti-bourgeois groups against fascism. The communists’ immediate goal was not revolution, but to defeat fascism.

Events of July 17th and the Military Response

  1. General Mola, the driver of the conspiracy, sent armed Carlist and Popular Front groups from Pamplona.
  2. General Goded controlled the Balearic Islands, and General Franco controlled the Canary Islands.
  3. On July 17, 1936, soldiers in Melilla, Morocco, rose up, and a state of war was proclaimed.
  4. Franco moved the Army of Africa from the Canary Islands to Tetuán.
  5. The government of Casares Quiroga failed to take measures, leading to a failed uprising and a division between rebel and government forces in major Spanish cities.