Spain's 1917 Crisis: Military, Political, and Social Upheaval

Reforms and Unrest in Pre-War Spain

The government initiated a series of significant reforms. Key legislation included:

• The "Padlock Law," which restricted the establishment of new religious orders.
• Reforms to church financing, which were accused of being anti-clerical.
• A new conscription law that made military service mandatory and eliminated the practice of cash redemption, which had allowed the wealthy to avoid service.
• A Law of Associations.
• A tax reform that replaced the unpopular consumos (consumption) tax.

These laws were an attempt to improve social and working conditions. However, the Prime Minister was assassinated by an anarchist in November 1912. His death led to a schism within the Liberal Party, with leaders like the Count of Romanones and others vying for control.

Spain's Neutrality and the Impact of WWI

During World War I, Spain remained a neutral but isolated nation. Spanish society was deeply divided: the church, the army, and the upper classes were generally pro-German, while progressive groups were pro-Allies. As a neutral country, Spain exported goods to nearly all the warring nations. This led to a boom in production, particularly in Asturian mining and Basque industry, generating great profits for business owners. However, this economic boom had severe consequences for the working classes, as rampant inflation caused prices to soar while wages stagnated. The cost of living increased by over 20%, leading to widespread strikes and demonstrations.

The Triple Crisis of 1917

The social, political, and military tensions culminated in the great Crisis of 1917. The overall revolutionary movement failed because the different sectors involved—the military, the bourgeoisie, and the workers—had conflicting goals and failed to unite.

The Military Crisis: Juntas de Defensa

Army officers were discontent due to several factors: an excess of officers, grievances over the war in Morocco, and a promotion system that favored Africanistas (officers serving in Africa). Furthermore, inflation was eroding the value of their salaries. In response, they formed Juntas de Defensa (Defense Committees), which acted as military unions. They issued a document in June 1917 blaming the government for the country's problems and demanding wage increases and a promotion system based on seniority (antigüedad).

The Political Crisis: Assembly of Parliamentarians

The political opposition initially believed the army's movement aligned with their own goals for national regeneration. When the government suspended constitutional guarantees and closed the Cortes (parliament), Catalan politicians in Barcelona convened an Asamblea de Parlamentarios (Assembly of Parliamentarians). Their goal was to establish a provisional government and convene a Constituent Cortes to reform the state. Although deputies from other regions were summoned, the assembly was ultimately dissolved by the Civil Guard.

The Social Crisis: The General Strike

The working class was suffering from rising prices and a loss of purchasing power while businesses reaped enormous profits. Following a railway conflict in Valencia, the socialist union (UGT) and party (PSOE) called for a revolutionary general strike. Their aim was to establish a provisional government. The strike, which anarchists did not initially support, led to violence and paralyzed life in major industrial areas like Madrid, Asturias, and the Basque Country. The government's reaction was severely repressive; it declared martial law and used the military to crush the strike. The aftermath was brutal:

• Over 70 people were killed.
• More than 200 were wounded.
• Over 2,000 were arrested.

The strike committee was tried by a council of war and faced the death penalty. The military, having secured its core demands, sided with the bourgeoisie to suppress the workers. The bourgeois politicians of the Assembly did not support the strike, fearing it would lead to a social revolution that went "too far." The failure of the strike and the imprisonment or exile of its leaders left the PSOE and the broader socialist and anarchist movements severely weakened and without clear leadership for future workers' revolts.