Spain's Military Coup of 1923 and the Fall of Primo de Rivera

The 1923 Coup and the End of the Constitutional Regime

The military coup in September 1923 ended the constitutional regime in Spain. This blow had several underlying causes and immediate consequences.

Key Causes Leading to the Military Dictatorship

Several factors contributed to the collapse of the existing government:

• Military Discontent: Several military leaders joined the coup due to the government's refusal to increase war budgets.
• Political Fragmentation: The division of the Liberal and Conservative parties.
• Socialist Alarm: The rise of socialist movements also alarmed the oligarchy and republicans.
• Middle-Class Disillusionment: The middle classes, disillusioned and exasperated by political corruption, pushed for change.
• Instability and the Picasso Dossier: For the right wing and the military, the dictatorship was seen as a solution to political instability and the fallout from the Picasso Dossier (related to military failures in Morocco), which was a determining factor in carrying out the coup.

Primo de Rivera Takes Power (September 12, 1923)

On September 12, 1923, Miguel Primo de Rivera, Captain General of Catalonia and head of the conspiracy against the government, rebelled. The coup succeeded thanks to the silence and support of Alfonso XIII, who immediately instructed the general to form a new government. Primo de Rivera had finished with the old parties and parliament, but the dictatorship did not touch the real basis of the system.

Policies and Failures of the Military Directory

The regime attempted change, notably through the Municipal Charter of 1924. It also created a unique political party, the Patriotic Union (Unión Patriótica), modeled after the Italian fascist system.

Success in the Moroccan War

The great success of the dictatorship was ending the war in Morocco, resulting in a Spanish victory. In late 1925, the Military Directory was replaced by a civilian government.

However, a proposed constitution, deemed too authoritarian, never entered into force. Ultimately, both the National Assembly and the Patriotic Union proved to be failures.

Widespread Opposition and the Regime's Collapse

Opposition to the regime covered a wide political spectrum:

• Traditional Leaders: Many liberal and conservative leaders refused to cooperate with the dictator and demanded that the King restore the constitution and hold elections. The King's refusal led many to withdraw from political life.
• Republican and Leftist Organization: Republicans began to organize, as did the working-class left (izquierda).
• Intellectuals and Students: Intellectuals joined the criticism, and there were growing student demonstrations.
• Military Unrest: Unrest was also growing within the army.

The Crisis of 1929 and Primo de Rivera's Resignation

Finally, in October 1929, the stock market crash of Wall Street triggered the beginning of the global economic crisis. Facing mounting political and economic pressure, King Alfonso XIII accepted the resignation of Primo de Rivera on January 27, 1930.