National Regeneration in Spain: Crisis of 1898 and Beyond

From this moment, the myth of the liberal revolution is replaced by that of national regeneration.

The main consequence of this period is the regeneration produced by the defeat of the Spanish squadron, almost without a fight. American superiority and the speed with which the rest of the empire fell gave an impression in Spain, across all social sectors. In many grassroots groups, there is the feeling of having been betrayed and deceived. The Crisis of '98, rather than a political or economic crisis, was a moral and ideological one, so deep and wide that it rocked the system. From here, nationalism began to expand, the labor movement became radical, Republicanism began, a revival of militarism started, and criticism of the Cánovas system became generalized.

This crisis would continue in the Tragic Week, the triple crisis of 1917, and the Annual disaster, leading to the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera.

In this context, the regeneration movement moved to Spain, an intellectual movement that objectively and scientifically meditated on the causes of the decline of Spain as a nation, a movement that continues to this day. Regenerationism has its precedents in the arbitristas of the 17th century and the Enlightenment of the 18th century, calling for the need for change, for regeneration. Regenerationism has characterized the 20th century, and its influences remain today. Regenerationists have included Alfonso XIII, Maura, and Ortega y Gasset, among others.

Types of Regenerationism

There are several types of regenerationism, among which we emphasize:

Intellectual Regenerationism

This movement was led by a number of intellectuals, among whom were the Generation of '98 and Joaquín Costa. Joaquín Costa advocated the need to modernize Spain and forget past glories, suggesting a hundred schools and pantries instead of keys to the tomb of El Cid. He proposed:

• The distribution of land, restoring the ancient practice of Spanish agrarian collectivism eliminated with confiscation.
• The construction of large hydraulic works.
• The extension of an educational program that would lift the masses from their traditional ignorance.

Here, we must also mention the Generation of '98, which is known as the Silver Age of Spanish literature.

Political Regenerationism

This movement also affected political life. We can establish a double division: one emerged within the same regime, which was going to be a supporter of the revolution from above (dynastic parties) and a supporter of the revolution from below (Republicans and Socialists).

• Dynastic Parties: Samuels, Maura, and Canalejas became the prototype of political regeneration.
• Peripheral Nationalisms: Blamed the centrist liberal state. The Catalan and Basque autonomies were contemplated.
• Republicans: Blamed the evils of the monarchy.
• Labor Movement: They blamed the monarchy and dynastic parties.
• Military: The disaster affected the ideology and behavior of the military, which leaned toward more conservative positions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, after studying this subject, I realized that all these regenerationist movements, except for the dynastic parties, came together in the crisis of 1917. Basically, all regenerationists agreed that the cause of the disaster of '98 could be found in the backwardness of Spain. Since then, regenerationism has resulted in an attempt to modernize Spain. Water policy, the educational emphasis of the Free Institution of Education, all of the progressive reforms of the Second Republic, the policy of industrialization under Franco, and even Europe would be incomprehensible without regenerationist modernization.

As I mentioned earlier, the Generation of '98 is considered the Silver Age of Spanish culture, bringing our culture to very high levels, organized around the problem of Spain. And finally, we see two regenerationist movements with a variety of ideological influences facing a duel in the bloody fratricidal Civil War: on one hand, peripheral nationalists, republicans, and the labor movement; and on the other, traditionalists, Catholics, Spanish nationalists, and authoritarians. In conclusion, we can outline the two Spains.