Alfonso XIII's Reign in Spain: Politics and Social Change

The Monarchy of Alfonso XIII

It was necessary to regenerate the political, economic, and social legislation since the Canovista restoration had already lapsed. Economically backward, the domain of agriculture, the industry was in its infancy. Gradually, industrialization appeared alongside the middle class and urban proletariat.

In politics, the parliamentary system was based on the fictional rotating government of Liberal and Conservative parties, decided by the king.

Rise to the Throne of Alfonso XIII

In 1902, at age 16, Alfonso XIII ascended to the throne. He continued to rule with the peaceful shift of the two major parties.

They devised the "revolution from above" that dealt with the financial restructuring of state, social reforms through protective labor laws, and an educational regenerationism through the Free Institute of Teaching.

The Opposition to the Two-Party System

Political forces outside the political system devised by Canovas remained marginalized: Carlist and Republican parties, nationalism (notably the Catalan), and the labor movement on two fronts: UGT (socialist) and CNT (anarchist). These groups, although they were increasing, then constituted neither a threat nor an alternative to the party in power.

The Government Under Maura (1907-1909)

Maura was the leader of the Conservative Party. These two years allowed him to carry out his regenerationist program:

• a) Conceived of a movement of mutual approach between state and people.
• b) Tried to end warlordism, fraud, and corruption.
• c) To satisfy regional aspirations, he bid for the creation of associations.
• d) Legitimized the right to strike and the right to join labor unions.
• e) Created the National Welfare Institute for regulating social issues.

Sending more troops to Melilla caused the Tragic Week of Barcelona, a general strike in July 1909 starring socialists, anarchists, and Republicans. It involved numerous killings and unfair trials. This social revolution, with an anticlerical sign of extraordinary importance, was severely repressed by the government and resulted in the resignation of Maura.

Canalejas' Liberalism (1909-1912)

Leader of the Liberal Party, Canalejas continued the policy of social reforms. In November 1912, he was assassinated by an anarchist.

The failure of the "revolution from above" was evident. From 1913, the breakdown of the historical parties was consummated, and political leadership remained in the hands of so-called "suitable" conservatives who joined Dato.

The highlight of the Canalejas project was the Provincial Associations and the treatment of the clerical problem.

The Crisis of 1917

This year, Spain experienced a crisis that would undermine what remained of the restoration scheme. This crisis was manifested in three areas:

• a) Military Juntas of Defense: The military was unhappy with the government's abandonment, so they organized boards, a kind of their own unions, protesting the situation.
• b) Assembly of Parliamentarians: Romanones' decision to rule apart from the courts created a deep malaise in the opposition, which threatened to gather a National Assembly of Parliamentarians in Madrid, outside the courts. The intention was to release all the country's forces against the state, but the social crisis raised fears of the assembled, due to a drift toward socialist positions, and it was dissolved.